Hungarian Grand Prix
Template:Short description Template:About Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:F1 race
The Hungarian Grand Prix (Template:Langx, Template:IPA) is a motor racing event held annually at the Hungaroring racetrack located on the northeastern outskirts of Budapest, within the village of Mogyoród. The event has been a regular fixture of the FIA Formula One World Championship since 1986, traditionally taking place between mid-July and late August.
History
Origins
The first Hungarian Grand Prix was held on 21 June 1936 over a Template:Convert track laid out in Népliget,<ref name="IHT">Template:Cite web</ref> a park in Budapest. The Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union, and the Alfa Romeo-equipped Ferrari teams all sent three cars and the event drew a very large crowd. However, politics and the ensuing war meant the end of Grand Prix motor racing in the country for fifty years.
Hungaroring
A major coup by Bernie Ecclestone, the 1986 Hungarian Grand Prix was the first Formula One race to take place behind the Iron Curtain. Held at the twisty Hungaroring in Mogyoród near Budapest, the race has been a mainstay of the racing calendar ever since. The first Grand Prix saw 200,000 people<ref name="IHT"/> spectating, although tickets were expensive at the time. Today, the support is still very enthusiastic, particularly from Finns, with locals making up ten percent while the majority are visitors from Germany.<ref name="AmCham">Template:Cite web</ref> The trophies are "handmade by Herendi Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt. with an approximate production time of six months at a cost of €40,000" each.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Due to the nature of the track, narrow, twisty and often dusty because of under-use, the Hungarian Grand Prix is associated with processional races, with sometimes many cars following one another, unable to pass. Thierry Boutsen demonstrated this in 1990, keeping his slower Williams car in front of championship leader Ayrton Senna, unable to find a way by. Pit strategy is often crucial; in 1998, Michael Schumacher's Ferrari team changed his strategy mid-race before Schumacher built up a winning margin after all the stops had been made. Passing is a rarity here, although the 1989 race saw a bullish performance from Nigel Mansell in the Ferrari, who started from 12th on the grid and passed car after car, finally taking the lead when Ayrton Senna was baulked by a slower runner. The circuit was modified slightly in 2003 in an attempt to allow more passing.
Other notable occasions in Budapest include first Grand Prix wins for Damon Hill (in 1993), Fernando Alonso (in 2003, the first Grand Prix winner from Spain, and the youngest ever Grand Prix winner at the time), Jenson Button (in an incident-packed race in 2006), Heikki Kovalainen (in 2008, who also became the 100th winner of a World Championship race), Esteban Ocon (in 2021), and Oscar Piastri (in 2024). In 1997, Damon Hill came close to winning in the technically inferior Arrows-Yamaha, but his car lost drive on the last lap causing him to coast in second place. In 2014, Lewis Hamilton finished in third, six seconds behind winner Daniel Ricciardo, despite starting the race from the pit lane.
In 2001, Michael Schumacher equalled Alain Prost's then record 51 Grand Prix wins at the Hungaroring, a drive that secured his fourth Drivers' Championship, which also matched Prost's career tally.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The 2006 Grand Prix was the first to be held here in wet conditions. Button took his first victory from 14th place on the grid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2020, Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix for an eighth time, equalling the most times a driver had won the same Grand Prix (sharing the record with Michael Schumacher who won the French Grand Prix eight times). The following year proved to be a memorable Hungarian Grand Prix; Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was involved in a first-lap incident under wet conditions that took out multiple cars, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, and Sergio Pérez, along with Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo; Ricciardo and Verstappen managed to finish the race while the other drivers involved in Bottas' crash all retired. Following the resulting red flag, after which race leader Hamilton remained on the intermediates, making him the only car to start on the grid as the other drivers pitted for dry weather tyres, Alpine's Esteban Ocon ended up leading the majority of the race, going on to take Team Enstone's first victory since 2013; Hamilton finished second after Sebastian Vettel was disqualified due to an insufficient fuel sample.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2022 edition was won by Verstappen.
At the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix, it was confirmed that Hungary would continue to host a Formula One race until 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The track was completely resurfaced for the first time in early 2016, and it was announced the Grand Prix's deal was extended for a further five years, until 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix the contract was extended to 2032.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Winners
Repeat winners (drivers)
Drivers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Template:Flagicon Lewis Hamilton | 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Michael Schumacher | 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Ayrton Senna | 1988, 1991, 1992 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Nelson Piquet | 1986, 1987 |
| Template:Flagicon Damon Hill | 1993, 1995 | |
| Template:Flagicon Jacques Villeneuve | 1996, 1997 | |
| Template:Flagicon Mika Häkkinen | 1999, 2000 | |
| Template:Flagicon Jenson Button | 2006, 2011 | |
| Template:Flagicon Sebastian Vettel | 2015, 2017 | |
| Template:Flagicon Max Verstappen | 2022, 2023 | |
| Source:<ref name=CF1HUN>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
Repeat winners (constructors)
Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Template:Flagicon McLaren | 1988, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2024, 2025 |
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Williams | 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Template:Flagicon Ferrari | 1989, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2015, 2017 | |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon Mercedes | 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Red Bull | 2010, 2014, 2022, 2023 |
| Source:<ref name=CF1HUN/> | ||
Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)
Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Template:Flagicon Mercedes * | 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025 |
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Renault | 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2010, 2014, 2021 |
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Ferrari | 1989, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2015, 2017 |
| 6 | Template:Flagicon Honda | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2006 |
| Source:<ref name=CF1HUN/> | ||
* Between 1999 and 2005 built by Ilmor, funded by Mercedes
By year
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.