Norris's one-stop strategy helps deny Piastri's charge

Briton closes the gap on McLaren teammate to nine points

- PHILIP DUNCAN

Lando Norris held off a thrilling late charge from Oscar Piastri to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and reduce his F1 world championship rival's lead to nine points.

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 of a second ahead of Piastri, who went within centimetres of colliding with Norris on the last-but-one lap when he locked up his front-right tyre at the opening corner.

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, also finished in that position, a lap down.

Norris's 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.

Norris started third, and although he got away well from his marks, an attempt to pass Piastri on the inside of the opening corner backfired. Norris did not commit to the overtake, and that left him in no-man's land, allowing Russell and then Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso to breeze through.