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McLaren's love affair with the Hungarian Grand Prix continues, as Lando Norris secured the team's first victory of the season in Budapest on Sunday afternoon. With upgrades to his car at the Hungaroring circuit, Norris converted his pole position into a dominant win, finishing 15 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Despite McLaren's struggles to match the consistency of rivals Ferrari and Mercedes earlier in the season, as they navigate the new 2026 technical regulations, the capabilities of reigning world champion Norris have rarely been in doubt. The 26-year-old himself believes he is in better form this year than during his championship-winning campaign in 2025.
With this victory, McLaren's third at the Hungaroring in the last three years, Norris's chances of defending his title are slim – 91 points separate him from leader Kimi Antonelli. However, they cannot be entirely ruled out, especially given McLaren's history of introducing key mid-season upgrades.
Some British media outlets are not ruling out a late charge from Norris to defend his 2025 title. Here's how they reacted to his supreme victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
In its coverage of the Hungarian Grand Prix, The Telegraph newspaper stated that Norris's win was a "reminder" to the other Formula 1 drivers of just how good he can be, after having to watch from the sidelines as his compatriots Russell and Lewis Hamilton battled Antonelli for the championship.
"For much of the season, Lando Norris was barely a factor in the title fight. Nearly eight months after winning his first title, he had to contend with a largely uncompetitive and at times unreliable McLaren car."
"Norris didn't lack ability, but the tools to showcase his talent. At the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, he had both in abundance, storming to victory from pole position. It was a reminder to the rest of Formula 1 of what he is still capable of."
BBC Sport also noted that after McLaren provided Norris with the tools to compete at the front, the world champion showed the other drivers what he's made of. The outlet praised the Briton and McLaren for a "near-perfect" Grand Prix.
"It was a performance we had been waiting a long time for, after a difficult start to the season for the reigning world champion and his McLaren team. But when McLaren finally provided him with a car at the performance level he had become accustomed to over the past season and a half, he made the most of it."
"While Ferrari, the pre-race favorites, faltered and made, in the words of team principal Frédéric Vasseur, 'too many mistakes,' Norris and McLaren were almost perfect. Even in the context of Kimi Antonelli's stellar start to the season for Mercedes, this was one of the most impressive and convincing victories of the season."
In its analysis of the events in Budapest, The Guardian newspaper praised Antonelli's impressive comeback from seventh position to secure the final podium spot in a "damage limitation" scenario, while also marveling at the epic battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
However, most of the praise rightly went to Norris, for whom The Guardian believes there is still a chance for the title with McLaren.
"And yet the afternoon truly belonged to Norris, and there was a palpable sense of relief and pleasure that he had finally shed the burden this season and that McLaren might, dare we say it, still be players in this title fight."
"They have a long way to go, not least because Antonelli once again proved to be as indomitable in adversity as any veteran, but Norris will still believe that this is far from over."
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