Martin Brundle commented on Lando Norris’s victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix and Oscar Piastri’s missed opportunity, suggesting that the Australian lost the race because McLaren focused too much on Leclerc during the first half of the race.
He had done everything right up until the overtake on Charles Leclerc, which looked to be the move for the virtual lead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, but Oscar Piastri had to reckon with a stoic Lando Norris, who held firm on older tyres all the way to the end, claiming an unexpected victory.
Despite having significantly fresher tyres than his teammate, the Australian driver wasn’t able to mount a real challenge for the win, only tentatively sizing up a move on Lando in the penultimate lap.
In the end, there was little he could do, especially with the risks involved and a Drivers’ Championship that, despite everything, still sees him leading with ten rounds to go.
According to Martin Brundle, Oscar lost the victory because McLaren focused too much on Charles Leclerc in the first half of the race, who then fell away after the second stint. Meanwhile, Norris paradoxically had an easier time strategy-wise after a poor start.
''Oscar will be seething with that,'' he told via Sky Sports after the race. ''Remember the two radio calls. Pit to undercut Leclerc. They were busy strategising to beat Leclerc.''
''Norris didn't have that problem as he was out of the picture and came in 13 laps later and changed strategy. The great irony is by not being in that fight with the Ferrari at the front they had more freedom and took it.''
"But he still had to deliver that pace for that amount of time on those tyres. Oscar will be asking why didn't we do that. Why have we two stopped and been beaten by our team-mate who one-stopped?"