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Oscar Piastri described the McLaren car as a “beast” after taking its first Formula 1 victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Piastri became the seventh different race winner of the season on Sunday and the first Australian to triumph at the Hungaroring since 2014.

McLaren teammate Lando Norris finished second, securing the British team’s first one-two finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

The result was also their tenth podium finish this season, a total they have achieved for the first time since the 2012 season (13).

“It’s a beast at the moment, it’s fast in all conditions, today we had it completely under control,” said Piastri.

“It was an incredible feeling to master the race with both cars and to take a double victory.

“I am incredibly happy for the whole team and about my first victory.”

Piastri celebrated his first triumph for McLaren at the 34th attempt, having already stood on the podium twice this season in Austria and Monaco.

With the win, the Australian moved up to fifth place in the drivers’ standings and is now only five points behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

“This is something very special. This is the day I dreamed of as a child, to stand on the top step of an F1 podium,” said Piastri.

“It was a bit complicated in the end, but I got myself into the right position at the start and I thank the team for the great car.”

“It’s a lot of fun racing with McLaren. I can’t thank them enough for giving me the chance to drive in F1. And to win with them after 18 months is an incredible feeling.”

But the victory was not without controversy.

Piastri was ahead of Norris for most of the race, but an early final pit stop by Norris – made by McLaren to protect him from Lewis Hamilton – put him ahead of his teammate.

Norris was repeatedly asked to slow down and let Piastri pass again and reminded of his responsibility to the team, but he refused to comply until two laps from the end.

“The longer you wait, the more nervous you get, of course, but the team did a good job, it was the right thing to do, I put myself in the right position right from the start,” added Piastri.

“Because of our different strategies, my pace in the last stint was probably not as high as I would have liked, but I was still in the right position to do it.”