2024 Hungarian Grand Prix

The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2024) was a Formula One motor race that took place on 21 July 2024 at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród, Hungary. It was the thirteenth round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out the front row, their first since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri won the race for McLaren, marking his maiden victory in Formula One, and becoming the first driver born in the 2000s to win a Formula One Grand Prix, as well as the first born in the 21st century to do so. Teammate Lando Norris finished second, marking McLaren’s first 1–2 finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes finished third, recording his 200th career podium.

Background
The event was held at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród for the 39th time in the circuit's history, across the weekend of 19–21 July. The Grand Prix was the thirteenth round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship and the 39th running of the Hungarian Grand Prix as a round of the Formula One World Championship.

Championship standings before the race
Going into the weekend, Max Verstappen led the Drivers' Championship with 255 points, 84 points ahead of Lando Norris in second, and 105 ahead of Charles Leclerc in third. Red Bull Racing, with 373 points, led the Constructors' Championship from Ferrari and McLaren, who were second and third with 302 and 295 points, respectively.

Entrants
The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race. Oliver Bearman drove in the first free practice session for Haas, in place of Nico Hülkenberg.

Tyre choices
Tyre supplier Pirelli brought the C3, C4, and C5 tyre compounds (the three softest in their range) designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively, for teams to use at this event.

Practice
Three free practice sessions were held for the event. The first free practice session was held on 19 July 2024 at 13:30 local time (UTC+2), and was topped by Carlos Sainz Jr. of Ferrari ahead of Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Sainz's teammate Charles Leclerc. The second free practice session was held on the same day, at 17:00 local time, and was topped by Lando Norris of McLaren ahead of Verstappen and Sainz. The third free practice session was held on 20 July 2024, at 12:30 local time, and was topped by Norris ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri and Verstappen.

Qualifying
Qualifying was held on 20 July 2024, at 16:00 local time (UTC+2).

Qualifying report
The first segment of qualifying was held after a spell of rain hit the circuit. The drying track meant that slick tyres were in use. Logan Sargeant drove his Williams into the barriers at turn 1. This accident brought out yellow flags and Sargeant's car was brought in for repairs. Soon, Sergio Pérez, who had been under pressure from his team after poor results, spun into the barriers and destroyed his Red Bull Racing, suspending the session while the barriers were repaired. During this red flag period, the rain briefly returned and the track was left wet. Daniel Ricciardo was the pacesetter for this session, and George Russell, in the Mercedes, was caught out and was eliminated from qualifying, joining Pérez, Zhou Guanyu and the two Alpine cars of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.

The second session was topped by Lando Norris in the McLaren. Lewis Hamilton struggled during this session, only setting a time good enough for tenth on the grid. Nico Hülkenberg, Valtteri Bottas, Alexander Albon, Sargeant and Kevin Magnussen were eliminated from this segment.

Due to Pérez's elimination, his teammate Max Verstappen was told by his race engineer that he would not be receiving a tow. He showed initial pace, but the McLaren of Norris's pace was faster and he set the fastest time of the session, granting him provisional pole position. However, that was to last as Yuki Tsunoda in the RB was involved in a heavy crash that left his chassis destroyed. Red flags were flown for the second and final time this session, and only Ricciardo (9th) was able to improve on his starting position. Oscar Piastri qualified second, which meant that McLaren secured a front-row lockout, their first since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Qualifying classification
Notes
 * – Pierre Gasly qualified 20th, but was required to start the race from the pit lane for replacing power unit elements without the approval of the technical delegate during parc fermé.
 * – As qualifying was held on a wet track, the 107% rule was not in force.

Race
The race was held on 21 July 2024, at 15:00 local time (UTC+2), and was run for 70 laps.

Race report
Pierre Gasly had changes made to his power unit made during parc fermé, facilitating a pit lane start which did not affect his qualification position of 20th. However, he then retired from the race itself due to a suspected hydraulics leak.

Most cars started on the medium with some others opting for hards or softs. Polesitter Lando Norris initially lost position to teammate Oscar Piastri, who led the race, and championship leader Max Verstappen, but the latter went wide and had to give the place back to Norris. He obliged on lap 4, lest he receive a penalty. With his teammate leading, Norris was informed that he was to race with Verstappen. The pit window was open by lap 17, and everyone went in for their scheduled stops, briefly giving Charles Leclerc the lead before he went in for his stop. Sergio Pérez, who ended qualifying early after damaging his car, was recovering into the points, eventually finishing seventh.

Lewis Hamilton soon saw himself engaged in a battle with Verstappen, who ended up being undercut by Hamilton and Leclerc. Verstappen soon caught up to Hamilton and was subjected to defenses. A divebomb from Verstappen would eventually send him locking up into Hamilton's Mercedes and into the air, prompting an investigation from the stewards. Norris was first up to pit for mediums in an attempt to cover off the potential risk of being overtaken by Hamilton; soon, Piastri came in for mediums. Throughout the closing stages of the race, McLaren were insistent that Norris, who was shuffled into the lead of the race, swap positions with Piastri, thus invoking team orders. Norris slowed down at the start-finish straight on lap 68, giving Piastri the lead and eventual maiden race win. Hamilton rounded off the podium, recording his 200th career podium, and this was McLaren's first 1–2 finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

Race classification
Notes
 * – Includes one point for fastest lap.

Championship standings after the race

 * Drivers' Championship standings


 * Constructors' Championship standings


 * Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.