The Hungarian Grand Prix first took place in 1986, making it the inaugural Grand Prix behind the Iron Curtain. Initially, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone had intended to organize a race in the then Soviet Union, but was pointed towards Budapest by a friend.

While the Hungarians initially wanted a street circuit similar to Monaco, the government decided to construct a new track in Mogyoród, on the outskirts of the city. The project was expedited, and the Hungaroring was completed in just eight months, setting a record for an F1 circuit.

The circuit quickly became a fan favorite due to its location in a valley, offering spectators a good view from almost every angle. The affordable entertainment options also played a role in its popularity. The Hungarian GP is traditionally held in the summer, often marking the end of the summer season, thus guaranteeing warm temperatures. In 2023, for the first time in a long while, the Budapest race was not the last of the summer series.

Historic Races

Despite sometimes being jokingly referred to as “Monaco without the walls and buildings”, alluding to the difficulty of overtaking, the Hungaroring has often been the stage for historic races. Notable examples include the legendary duel between Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna in the first edition in 1986. In 1998, Michael Schumacher delivered a strategic masterpiece by defeating Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard with an impressive series of qualifying laps. Lewis Hamilton’s victory in 2019 was reminiscent of the latter, as he switched to a softer tire late in the race, enabling him to catch up with and overtake Max Verstappen in the final stages.

Felipe Massa has less fond memories of the Hungaroring. During the 2009 qualification, the Ferrari driver was hit by a spring that had come loose from Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP car. The projectile pierced the visor of the helmet and struck the Brazilian just above the eye. He lost consciousness and crashed into the tire barriers. Massa underwent head surgery the same day and was able to make his comeback in 2010.

Past Winners

Lewis Hamilton is by far the most successful driver at the Hungaroring, having won the Grand Prix a record eight times. Michael Schumacher achieved this feat four times. As a constructor, McLaren has won the Hungarian Grand Prix the most times: eleven. Williams and Ferrari have each done so seven times.

In 2022, Max Verstappen had a strong Hungarian Grand Prix. He started the race in tenth place after engine problems in the qualification and had to concede a potential pole to George Russell. However, the Dutchman quickly recovered in the early stages of the race. A sublime strategy from Red Bull, combined with the dominance of the car, allowed Verstappen to deliver a masterstroke. This included a spectacular spin in which he briefly surrendered the newly gained lead to Leclerc, who had been put on much slower tires by his team. In the end, Verstappen triumphed over the two Mercedes.

In 2023, it was again Verstappen who came out on top. Despite Lewis Hamilton’s pole position, Verstappen was unstoppable on Sunday. He won with a lead of 23 seconds.

Some Facts about the Hungarian GP

• Opened: 1986
• First F1 race: 1986
• Location: Mogyoród
• Length: 4.381 km
• Number of turns: 14
• Most victories: Lewis Hamilton (8)
• Lap record: Lewis Hamilton (1:16.627 in 2020)

Recent Winners of the Hungarian Grand Prix

• 2023: Max Verstappen
• 2022: Max Verstappen
• 2021: Esteban Ocon
• 2020: Lewis Hamilton
• 2019: Lewis Hamilton
• 2018: Lewis Hamilton
• 2017: Sebastian Vettel

A Lone Start

The start of the 2021 GP was marked by chaos. Valtteri Bottas braked too late on a wet track, hitting Norris, who in turn hit Verstappen, who then hit Pérez. This chaos resulted in a red flag and a restart. During the red flag, the track had mostly dried up. This led everyone to pit during the second formation lap, except for Lewis Hamilton. The British driver appeared alone on the starting grid. While this provided some striking images, this strategic mistake cost him the victory that day. Esteban Ocon won his first Formula 1 race after a long battle with Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton fought his way back to third place.

Schedule for the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix

Friday, July 19

13:30 – 14:30: First free practice
17:00 – 18:00: Second free practice

Saturday, July 20

12:30 – 13:30: Third free practice
16:00 – 17:00: Qualification

Sunday, July 21

15:00 – 17:00: Race