McLaren calling team orders aren’t new to Formula One. It is a part of the sport. Many remember when Sergio Perez sacrificed his race in Abu Dhabi in 2021 to hold up Lewis Hamilton in one of the most incredible showcases of defensive driving to help Max Verstappen close the gap and ultimately win the driver’s championship. We have seen Ferrari tell Rubens Barrichello was given team orders to move out of the way and let Michael Schumacher win the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002. The Hungarian Grand Prix on the other made no sense in pursuit of a driver championship.
McLaren Strategic Woes Continue
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For the final stop of the race, McLaren brought in Lando Norris to start setting him up for the undercut on his teammate and race leader Oscar Piastri. At the end of the pit cycle, Norris had opened a commanding lead over Piastri thanks to the undercut. McLaren seemingly swapped drivers via pit strategy to help Norris close ground on Verstappen for the drivers’ championship.
McLaren then gave team orders for Norris to give the position back to Piastri. Norris continuously fought the orders and appeared to ignore the orders. Finally after many pleas from the McLaren pit wall for Norris to give up the win to Piastri, he relented and let Piastri close the over-five-second lead and allow the young Aussie to capture his first career Grand Prix victory.
This is an unnecessary controversy as the strategy once again leaves F1 fans’ heads scratching as to why. Much like Silverstone a strategic error but this time it led to greater controversy leaving a black eye on the first victory for the talented young driver Oscar Piastri, as well as creating tension with McLaren and their number one driver Lando Norris is gifted in his own right.
Verstappen Frustrated
Max Verstappen has been the lone Red Bull fighting at the top throughout most of this year. he is the lone driver to have multiple victories so far this season. In this race, he finished back in fifth and he is frustrated with the direction of the car as his car is not turning as well as Verstappen wanted it to leading to multiple incidents on the track in Hungry.
The first incident came on the opening lap as the lights went out and the race down to turn one Verstappen tried to take the long way around and clear the McLarens. His car not handling as well as Verstappen had hoped he goes off the track and rejoins in front of Norris and behind Piastri. Red Bull in fear of getting a five-second penalty told Max to give the position back to Norris.
Lewis Hamilton then undercut Verstappen both times making the Dutchman have to pass Hamilton on the track leading to the next incident. Max trying to get around Lewis locked up the tires his front tires going right up Hamilton’s tires causing the car to go airborne and come right back down thankfully with no damage but did lose fourth place to Charles LeClerc.
Hamilton Makes History Again
Lewis Hamilton has secured his 200th podium an unprecedented feat in Formula One. The closest active driver to this accomplishment is Verstappen with 107. Hamilton has already the most wins, podiums, and pole positions, and is tied for the most championships in Formula One.
His teammate George Russell has had to come through the field after starting 17th in a wild qualifying. Russell was able to recover to eighth after good strategy allowed him to make his way through the field. The second part of the season for Mercedes could be one to remember in Hamilton’s final campaign with the Luxury car brand.
