George Russell eyes Hungary GP redemption after 2025 podium finish

George Russell will chase a career-best Hungary GP result this weekend after taking third place in 2025’s race at the Hungaroring.

What happened in Hungary last year?

On 20 July 2025, Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren, with Oscar Piastri finishing second for McLaren and George Russell third for Mercedes. The trio shared the podium as the 11th round of the season delivered a historic 1-2-3 lockout for McLaren: the first time since 2010 that a team claimed all three podium positions in Hungary. Russell’s third place marked his fourth podium of the 2025 campaign and extended his streak of top-five finishes at the tight, twisty circuit.

Why it matters for George Russell

Hungary has become a circuit where Russell consistently delivers. His third-place finish in 2025 came after a qualifying lap of 1:16.872: just 0.089 seconds off Norris’s pole time. That race also marked the first time since 2021 that Russell finished ahead of both Ferraris, a sign of Mercedes’ progress on low-grip tracks. With McLaren’s 2025 form still fresh in minds, Russell will need to erase last year’s deficit to keep Mercedes in the constructors’ title fight.

Weekend schedule: Hungary GP 2026

The Hungaroring hosts the 12th round of the 2026 season, with all sessions airing live on Apple TV in the U.S. Practice 1 kicks off at 7:30 a.m. ET on Friday, 24 July. Practice 2 follows at 11:00 a.m. ET, then Practice 3 on Saturday at 6:30 a.m. ET. Qualifying runs at 10:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, with the race at 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday.

What comes next for Russell and Mercedes?

Russell heads into Hungary with momentum from a strong mid-season run in 2025. His third-place finish in Hungary was part of a five-podium streak that lifted him to fifth in the drivers’ standings. Mercedes, meanwhile, used Hungary’s low-degradation layout to close gaps on rivals. A repeat podium in 2026 would keep both driver and team in title contention. But Russell knows McLaren’s 2025 pace won’t disappear: and neither will the pressure to deliver in Hungary.

Russell has called the Hungaroring a “special track” for him. He’s finished in the top five in three of his past four visits, including a career-best second in 2023. That race-day consistency makes Hungary a key swing venue: and Russell’s best chance to strike back at McLaren’s early-season surge.