Both Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris achieved podium finishes at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
A somewhat awkward exchange took place between Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton in the cooldown room before the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which was caught on camera.
Hamilton came in third place, with Norris ahead of him. Norris was surprised when he was asked to let his teammate, Piastri, win the race. Piastri had been leading for most of the race, but a strategy decision favored Norris. After the race, there was a slightly tense conversation between the two British drivers, which was caught on camera and shared on social media.
Cooldown room exchange between Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris caught before Hungarian GP podium
Hamilton, sat in a chair while Norris entered the room, said to the McLaren driver: “Phew, you guys are fast.”
Norris retorted, “Seven years ago, you possessed a speedy car…”
Hamilton replied: “Seven years ago? Long time. Were you here seven years ago?”
Norris, who entered the sport in 2019 and is currently in his sixth season, responded by saying, “Indeed, you had a fast car and utilized it to the fullest extent, but now it’s our turn.”
Hamilton, appearing slightly perplexed by Norris’ response, proceeded to clarify, “I wasn’t expressing dissatisfaction, I was merely admiring the quality of your vehicle.”
Guys, there seems to be a lack of “cooling down” happening here…
A tense first episode of the Oscar Piastri podcast #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/WvnZVBXo15
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 21, 2024
More from the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend
Revealed: Every message as McLaren desperately pleaded with Lando Norris to obey team orders
Lando Norris’ indecision turns Oscar Piastri pandemonium into sour McLaren moment
Race winner Piastri joined the two, and together they analyzed the crucial moments of the afternoon’s race. The Hungaroring witnessed intense drama on Sunday.
McLaren made the strategic decision to pit Norris ahead of his team-mate, securing his position at the front and preventing Hamilton from overtaking him. This move allowed Norris to gain an advantage over Piastri in the final stretch, resulting in him taking the lead.
Piastri, who had taken the lead from his McLaren teammate at Turn 1 on Sunday, led every lap despite receiving several team orders to let the Australian back through. However, Norris finally gave in three laps before the end, graciously handing his colleague his first victory.
When questioned about whether he would become more self-centered in the future, he responded by saying, “It’s hard to say. I’ve been through this… I don’t know. I feel like I was placed in this position, and it’s not entirely my fault for taking the lead in that manner.”
To put it succinctly, the team should have prioritized boxing Oscar initially, which would have prevented the need for this discussion altogether. Therefore, that is not the issue at hand. I believe that as a team, there were some slight adjustments we could have made, and I’m confident we will address them in our conversation.
“However, simultaneously… Piastri truly earned the victory today. His performance was exceptional. He outperformed me at the start, and that sensation of winning your inaugural race is truly remarkable. I emphasize ‘first race’ because I believe we can all concur that this is his first triumph, not merely a Sprint race.”
“Thus, I will allow him to relish in it, and for our collective unit, securing the victory makes it an extraordinary weekend for everyone involved.”
Read next: Max Verstappen lashes out at critics following tense Hungarian GP: ‘They can all f**k off’
