As Formula 1 heads into the summer break, who needs the time to reflect and who goes in with momentum on their side after the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Lando Norris: 8.5
Despite a poor opening lap, Norris was the beneficiary of a great strategy call from McLaren to leapfrog pole-sitter Charles Leclerc and team-mate Oscar Piastri.
The Briton resisted the fast-charging Piastri in the closing laps to go into the summer break only nine points behind the Australian and with the wind in his sails.
Oscar Piastri: 8.5
Piastri could not better his starting position come race day in Hungary, losing out to team-mate Norris and unable to make a late race tyre delta pay off.
The championship leader looked to be biding his time in the early stages behind Leclerc’s Ferrari, and pounced on the Monegasque after the second round of pitstops.
However, he was unable to make an attack stick on Norris, almost careering into the back of his team-mate with a bold late braking manoeuvre on the penultimate lap.
George Russell: 9
George Russell returned to the rostrum for the first time since his win in Canada back in June as Mercedes’ reversion to a previous-spec suspension paid dividends.
The Briton managed to take his place on the podium at the expense of pole-sitter Leclerc as the Ferrari driver struggled with a chassis problem during his third stint.
A sixth podium this season is the boost Russell needs as his future at Mercedes becomes a lot more secure for 2026 and beyond.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: 6.5
Andrea Kimi Antonelli put his run of pointless races behind him as he recovered from a Q2 exit to claim the final point in Budapest.
His best time in Q2 was deleted for track limits, although it wouldn’t have been enough for a top 10 start, leaving him more work to do.
But a one-stop and some good late race defending will give Antonelli a little, but much-needed, confidence boost after a disappointing recent run of form.
Charles Leclerc: 9
Leclerc claimed the Hungaroring was his “worst track” in the lead-up to the weekend, but he put that bed with a stunning lap to beat the McLaren duo to pole position.
The Ferrari racer was looking strong in the opening half of the race, until an unknown problem with his chassis once he exited the pits a second time thwarted his bid.
Leclerc dropped behind Piastri and then Russell, who was unimpressed with his rival’s driving as he moved under braking twice into Turn 1, landing him a time penalty.
Lewis Hamilton: 3
Lewis Hamilton was unable to be his vintage best at a venue where he is the most decorated driver, as he produced another below-par weekend in a Ferrari.
Having twice been knocked out in Q1 in Belgium, Hamilton endured another premature elimination as he qualified 12th, while Leclerc would go on to take pole.
Starting on the Hard tyre and aiming to go long, the Brit spent most of the race stuck in a DRS train and then emerged from the pits on the Mediums in 16th.
And on a track where passing is notoriously difficult, Hamilton could only return to his starting position, finishing a weekend outside the points for the first time in 2025.
The summer break will be one of reflection for the seven-time champion, having branded himself “useless” and suggesting Ferrari should look to replace him.
Fernando Alonso: 9.5
Aston Martin put the disappointment of last weekend at Spa behind them and stormed back into the top five in Hungaroring as Fernando Alonso rolled back the years.
Despite missing out on FP1 after suffering back pain after the weekend in Belgium, the Spaniard stormed into the top five in qualifying, 0.109s away from pole position.
And the two-time champion would masterfully convert it on race day too, taking a first top-five finish of the season and a first since the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Lance Stroll: 8.5
Lance Stroll perfectly backed up team-mate Alonso to secure a fourth Grand Prix points finish in 2025, matching his result from Silverstone.
The Canadian was also marginally close to a shock pole position, just 17 thousandths behind the more experienced Alonso on Saturday.
Seventh on race day is the boost Stroll and the Aston Martin squad need heading into the summer break in F1’s tight midfield scrap, where every point matters.
Gabriel Bortoleto: 9
A best-ever start was backed up by a career-high finish in sixth for Gabriel Bortoleto in Hungary as the Formula 2 champion continued his strong recent run.
The Brazilian has been riding the crest of a wave somewhat in recent weeks, with three points finishes in his last four to quietly put himself into the equation for rookie of the season.
Nico Hulkenberg: 5
Nico Hulkenberg was once again in the shadow of his rookie teammate as a Q1 exit in 19th left the German with a mountain to climb on a track where overtaking is difficult.
A five-second penalty for moving before the lights went out compounded his difficulties. The alternate two strategy was not enough to recover to the points, 13th his position.
Liam Lawson: 9
Liam Lawson will enter the summer break with the run of results the Kiwi would like, as Budapest saw him score for the fourth time in six races in 2025.
The New Zealander would be the highest finishing Red Bull-backed car on race day, holding off the senior team’s Max Verstappen in the latter stages.
Lawson would convert his ninth place on the grid to eighth on race day and a continuation of the form that saw him viewed as the future of Red Bull less than a year ago.
Isack Hadjar: 6
Isack Hadjar ensured both Racing Bull machines made it into Q3 on Saturday; however, he was unable to convert like his teammate could come race day.
The Frenchman complained of pain in his hand after being struck by gravel thrown up by a car ahead of him, which would have affected his charge to the top 10.
He was unable to pass Antonelli in the latter stages, but he did hold off his hero Hamilton to just miss out on points in 11th place.
Max Verstappen: 6
On the weekend the reigning champion told the media he feared he won’t win another race in 2025, it was possibly Red Bull’s worst weekend in terms of performance.
A lowly ninth on the grid was all Verstappen could manage in qualifying. On race day his RB21 seemed harder to drive than ever at the Hungaroring as he slumped to ninth.
Yuki Tsunoda: 5
Despite being a little over a tenth and a half behind Verstappen in Q1, Tsunoda would still find himself eliminated in 16th.
A pit lane start for new engine components left the Japanese driver a mountain to climb, and with his RB21 suffering more than ever, 17th was all he could muster.
Carlos Sainz: 5.5
Hungary has always been a circuit that has gone against the strengths of recent Williams cars, and 2025 was no different.
Knocked out in 13th in qualifying, the choice to start on the Soft tyre gained the Spaniard some places early on.
However, an early stop, combined with a collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, for which the Frenchman would be penalised, stunted a charge into the top 10.
Alex Albon: 5
Alex Albon was unable to back up his run to the top six at Spa in Hungary, as a 15th-place finish was all he could manage after being knocked out in last place in Q1.
Esteban Ocon: 5
Esteban Ocon was another driver who could not repeat his heroics from Belgium, being knocked out in Q1 and ending up a lowly 16th at the chequered flag.
Ollie Bearman: 7
Being on a run of four consecutive 11th-place finishes, Bearman would qualify in the very same 11th and was on course for a potential points finish.
However, the Briton would have to retire the car on Lap 48 after suffering a large amount of rear-end damage to his Haas car.
Franco Colapinto: 6
Despite a low 18th, Colapinto could take positives from the fact he out-qualified and finished ahead of teammate Gasly for the second time this season.
Pierre Gasly: 4.5
Gasly has essentially carried Alpine on his back single-handedly so far in 2025, but it was an off weekend for the Frenchman in Budapest.
Out in Q1, starting on the Hard tyre and collecting a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Sainz saw Gasly cross the line as the last of the finishers in 19th.
READ MORE – Lando Norris resists Oscar Piastri to head McLaren 1-2 in F1 Hungarian GP
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