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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri remains winless after 11 races in the 2026 F1 season. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri remains winless after 11 races in the 2026 F1 season. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The Australian converted third on the Hungarian GP grid into the lead within two corners, passing Charles Leclerc at Turn 1 before sweeping ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris when the pole-sitter ran wide at Turn 2.<\/p>\n
Piastri controlled the first half of the race and stayed ahead through the opening pit stops, with McLaren later bringing him in for a second time to protect his position from Lewis Hamilton.<\/p>\n
He still appeared likely to remain in front once Norris stopped, only for his afternoon to turn while lapping Carlos Sainz on Lap 38<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sainz moved back towards the racing line at Turn 2 and struck the McLaren, sending Piastri briefly onto the grass and costing him the time Norris needed to complete the overcut one lap later.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, there\u2019s no excuse at all,\u201d Piastri said after the race.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s got to be one of the dumbest things I\u2019ve ever seen on a race track.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really care what excuse you give.\u201d<\/p>\n Second place remained within reach until a gearbox failure brought Piastri to a halt on Lap 56, leaving him empty-handed after leading more than half the grand prix.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely a lost chance, yes,\u201d he said when asked if he felt he had lost a win in Budapest.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pace wasn\u2019t great at all on the hard tyres, but I felt like as long as I held track position, I had a decent chance of hanging on to the end.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t going to be pretty, but I felt like it was possible. From that point on, pretty much everything that could have gone wrong, even the things you never think of, did go wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018F***ing idiot\u2019: Piastri blasts Sainz over Hungary clash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The retirement completed a miserable outcome, but Hungary may also have provided the strongest evidence yet that Piastri can still win before the season is over.<\/p>\n McLaren introduced a major upgrade package for the weekend and immediately produced its most convincing performance of 2026.<\/p>\n Norris topped final practice<\/a>, took pole<\/a> and secured the team\u2019s first grand prix victory since the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Both cars had the pace to fight for the win and appeared headed for a one-two finish before Piastri\u2019s failure.<\/p>\n That represented a major shift from the opening 10 rounds, when McLaren struggled to match Mercedes and Ferrari under the new regulations.<\/p>\n Mercedes won eight of the first 11 races, while Ferrari claimed the other two victories before Norris finally broke their grip in Budapest<\/a>.<\/p>\n Piastri has reached the podium only twice this year, finishing second in Japan and third in Miami.<\/p>\n