McLaren’s first front row sweep for over a decade makes this a race they must not lose · RaceFans

McLaren head into the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday knowing that there can be no excuses if they do not come away from the circuit with their second victory of the season.

Not that the team who have scored more points than any over the last seven rounds have been offering any excuses for their failure to convert multiple opportunities for victories over recent months, of course. Team principal Andrea Stella accepted McLaren had to do better after letting another potential win slip through their fingers in Silverstone two weeks ago.

But after nearly a decade in the doldrums with some major changes in management, culture and resources, McLaren are bona fide, regular race win contenders once again. Now they need to start winning regularly.

Since that breakthrough win in Miami, McLaren have led laps in four separate grands prix, had a car on the front row four times out of six – including pole position in Spain – and finished second in five of the last six grand prix Sundays. But McLaren have locked out the front row for tomorrow’s race, something they last did in 2012. Pole winner Lando Norris is as bullish as he has sounded about his team’s chances for victory all year – even if Max Verstappen sits directly behind them on the grid.

“I’m as confident as we have been for a while,” Norris said after qualifying. “Both in qualifying and in races, we’ve been strong.

“I think our ‘bad’ ones are still third or fourth, but our ‘good’ ones have been chances to win. So definitely a good opportunity for both of us – and for us as a team – to score some big points. And that’s our target tomorrow.”

But at the highest level, there is a clear separation between those who to whom winning is the goal and those for whom winning is routine. McLaren have squandered too many chances at victory recently and Verstappen has been more than capable – and all too happy – to punish them for it. Even if the Red Bull is no longer the best overall package on the grid, the world champions can and will find a way to win if they can.

“We’ll try our very best. Try to have a good, stable balance with the car,” said Verstappen. “And I hope if I find that, that I can follow them.

“Honestly, my long runs have been okay, but nothing fantastic or special. I think it’s better to be realistic than sitting here and spreading false hope. But we’ll see tomorrow.”

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