Oscar Piastri heads into this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix hoping to widen the gap at the top of the drivers championship, as he returns to the track where he claimed his maiden Formula One victory .
The 24-year-old Australian, who has already taken six wins from 13 races this season, leads his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 16 points. But Piastri remains cautious as the campaign reaches its halfway stage.
"Going back to the place where I got my first win is always special," he said. "Budapest is a great city, and the Hungaroring is a fun, technical circuit. But once were in the car, it's all about performance."
Piastri's victory at the venue last year came under contentious circumstances. After grabbing the lead from pole-sitter Norris at the start, he lost track position during pit stops. McLaren then instructed Norris to let him through, prompting a team order that delivered Piastri's first win - and sparked frustration for the Briton.
This time, Norris will be aiming to take matters into his own hands. Despite strong pace and a second-place finish in Belgium - where Piastri overtook him in wet conditions at the rolling start - Norris has lacked the consistency of the ever-reliable Australian.