F1: The new winner defended the team instructions

The 39th Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix was about McLaren’s soap opera tactics: despite the double victory of the Woking team, there was no doubt for a long time whether Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris could stand on top of the podium at the Hungaroring.

Piastri took the lead after the start, then lost it after the second tire change, after Norris, who was further back on the track, was called to the pit lane earlier. It seemed that the Briton would not give the position back to his teammate despite the team’s repeated requests, but he finally gave in on the 68th lap: Piastri slowed down spectacularly and let him go.

In this way, the Australian won the first victory of his career, Norris finished in second place, who also scored important points on Max Verstappen, who was struggling in the early stages of the race. Behind the two McLaren drivers, Mercedes’ seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) finished third. After waving off the 70-lap race Nico Rosberg, It was made by the 2016 F1 World Champion interviews with the podium finishers.

“Very special. As a child, I dreamed of this day when I would stand on the top step of the F1 podium. The end was obviously a bit complicated, but I did well at the start, and I thank the team for their efforts and the wonderful car.” he declared Plates, who, following the example of Damon Hill, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Heikki Kovalainen and Esteban Ocon, won for the first time in Formula 1 at the Hungaroring.

“It’s a hell of a lot of fun racing at McLaren. I can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to be in Formula 1″ the Australian continued. “And it’s an incredible feeling that we won together after 18 months. Currently (the car) a beast. Fast in all conditions. I think we dominated the race today, which feels amazing, and secured a double win.”

“Of course, the longer you leave it, the more nervous you are”– addressed the confusion surrounding the order of the team. “But it was handled well by the team and I think it was the right thing to do. I put myself in a good position at the start. With the different strategy, I probably wasn’t as fast in the last stage as I would have liked, but I was still in a good position.” – stated Piastri, who hopes that he will have more race victories.

“We had an amazing day as a team and I think that’s the most important thing. I am very happy as it has been a long road to get here. We were way ahead of everyone” – he evaluated his race Norris. “Oscar got a good start and then controlled the race well. He deserved his win.”

“There are two good riders and a wonderful team. It’s still hard and long (the road to the World Constructors’ title – ed.), but today was our day. This may change by the spa weekend, but we will try to have as many weekends as possible.”

When asked about the change of place requested by the team, the Brit became much more succinct: “The team asked me to do it, so I did it, that’s it” he concluded briefly.

“Congratulations to McLaren on their double win” – the winner of his 200th F1 podium messaged his former team Hamilton. “It’s my old family, so I’m happy to see them back in the lead. They did a great job today, while we didn’t have the pace of McLaren or Red Bull. At the beginning of the race we managed to climb higher, but after that it was very difficult to keep up with them.”

After his 200th podium, Hamilton did not blame Verstappen for the crash. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Even though the stewards are investigating the collision between Hamilton and Verstappen, the Briton did not shift the blame to his Red Bull opponent.

“Obviously the battle we had at the end was a bit hair-raising, but that’s what motor racing is all about. It wasn’t nerve wracking at all. When you see the speed with which they try to close the gap in certain corners, I just can’t help but laugh to myself” he shared his point of view. “I saw him coming from far away and he was able to brake much later than me, but then he braked on the inside wheel. I stayed where I was, he slipped out, I think it was a racing accident.”