McLaren boss Andrea Stella defended the team's Hungarian Grand Prix strategy after Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris expressed frustration over team radio. Piastri started third but overtook Charles Leclerc and pole-sitter Norris to lead the opening lap. McLaren aimed to give Piastri strategic priority, but pressure from Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton at the second pit-stop phase forced a response. Piastri pitted to cover Hamilton but lost the lead to Norris due to the Briton's superior pace and a collision with backmarker Carlos Sainz.

Piastri vented frustration immediately after the Sainz contact, for which the Spaniard was penalised, and again when Norris emerged ahead post-stop. Stella explained the team had to pit a McLaren to prevent Hamilton undercutting both cars, and Piastri was the lead car at that moment. He added Norris's pace on used tyres ultimately secured the win, not team manipulation.

Piastri, who later retired with a gearbox failure, accepted the pit-stop timing was fair and his request to delay Norris's stop after the collision was unreasonable. He remained critical of Sainz, calling the lapped-car collision "unacceptable." Sainz cited blue-flag issues and battling Fernando Alonso as mitigating factors, prompting Piastri to suggest the Spaniard "look in the mirror."