Formula 1: A historic streak was shattered in Hungary
By Asher Fair
Lando Norris was taken out in the opening lap of the Hungarian Grand Prix, ending a streak that led all drivers in Formula 1.
When Valtteri Bottas lost control of his Mercedes in the wet heading into turn one of the Hungaroring on the opening lap of Sunday’s Formula 1 race, McLaren’s Lando Norris was the first one to pay the price — and it was a big one, in terms of its overall implications.
Bottas made contact with Norris, sending him into the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. The other Red Bull of Sergio Perez was also collected in the mess, and Bottas, Norris and Perez were forced to retire from the Hungarian Grand Prix because of it.
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Not only did this mark Norris’s first retirement since last season, but it also ended a historic streak of point-scoring finishes.
Coming into this race, Norris had scored points in each of the last 15 races going back to last season.
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This was an all-time high for any McLaren driver, and it was the longest streak among active drivers. Norris had held the longest active streak among active drivers since Lewis Hamilton’s record 54-race streak of point-scoring finishes ended with a 15th place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit back in early June.
No other driver entered the Hungarian Grand Prix with a streak of more than five consecutive point-scoring finishes. The only driver who entered with a streak of five was Alpine’s Fernando Alonso, who extended what it now a series-high streak to six with a fourth place finish.
Norris has nine top five finishes through the first 11 races of the 2021 season, including three podium results.
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The 21-year-old Briton will look to bounce back at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, a track where he has had some success in two career starts, in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, August 29. He was slated for a fifth place finish there as a rookie in 2019 before a mechanical issue knocked him out of the race on the final lap, and he finished in seventh there last year. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET.