Lando hope and glory with win in Hungary

LANDO Norris held off a thrilling late charge from Oscar Piastri to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and reduce his world championship rival’s lead to nine points.

- By PHILIP DUNCAN

Norris was running in fourth place but benefited from stopping for tyres one fewer time than his rivals to land his fifth victory of the season.

The British driver took the chequered flag just six tenths ahead of Piastri, who went within centimetres of colliding with Norris on the last-but-one lap when he locked up his frontright tyre at the opening corner.

“Remember how we go racing, Oscar,” came the warning from his race engineer, Tom Stallard.

George Russell passed Charles Leclerc with eight laps to go to take the final spot on the podium.

Pole-sitter Leclerc had to settle for fourth. Lewis Hamilton, who urged Ferrari to replace him after he qualified only 12th, finished in the same position, a lap down.

Norris’ win in the concluding round before the summer break - his third triumph from his last four appearances - reignites his bid to land a maiden world crown.

But the Bristolian can count himself somewhat fortunate to be standing on the top step of the podium.