 | |
 Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present) | |
| Location | Mogyoród,Pest County, Hungary |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47°34′56″N19°15′04″E / 47.58222°N 19.25111°E /47.58222; 19.25111 |
| Capacity | 70,000 |
| FIA Grade | 1 |
| Operator | Hungaroring Sport Zrt |
| Broke ground | 1 October 1985; 40 years ago (1985-10-01) |
| Opened | 24 March 1986; 39 years ago (1986-03-24) |
| Architect | István Papp & Ferenc Gulácsi |
| Former names | Hungaroring (1986–1994, 2005–present) Hungaroring RT (1995–2004) |
| Major events | Current: Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix (1986–present) International GT Open (2012, 2014, 2017–2018, 2020–present) Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux (2025) Future: TCR Europe (2018–2019, 2023, 2026) Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Hungarian motorcycle Grand Prix (1990, 1992) ELMS4 Hours of Hungaroring (2010, 2013) TCR World Tour (2023) European Truck Racing Championship (1988–1990, 2015–2022) FIA WTCR Race of Hungary (2011–2022) GT World Challenge Europe (2016–2019) DTM (2014, 2016–2018) World SBK (1988–1990) FIA GT (1998–2001, 2006, 2009) |
| Website | https://hungaroring.hu |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present) | |
| Length | 4.381 km (2.722 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:16.627 ( Lewis Hamilton,Mercedes W11,2020,F1) |
| Modified Grand Prix Circuit (1989–2002) | |
| Length | 3.975 km (2.470 mi) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:16.207 ( Michael Schumacher,Ferrari F2002,2002,F1) |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1988) | |
| Length | 4.014 km (2.494 mi) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:30.149 ( Nelson Piquet,Williams FW11B,1987,F1) |
TheHungaroring is a 4.381 km (2.722 mi)motorsportracetrack inMogyoród,Pest County, Hungary where theFormula OneHungarian Grand Prix is held. In 1986,[1] it became the location of the first Formula OneGrand Prix behind theIron Curtain.[2]Bernie Ecclestone wanted a race in theUSSR, but a Hungarian friend recommendedBudapest. They wanted a street circuit similar to theCircuit de Monaco to be built in theNépliget[3] – Budapest's largest park – but the government decided to build a new circuit just outside the city[4] near a major highway. Construction works started on 1 October 1985. It was built in eight months, less time than any other Formula One circuit. The first race was held on 24 March 1986, in memory ofJános Drapál, the first Hungarian who wonmotorcycle Grand Prix races.
According to a survey put together by the national tourism office of Hungary, Mogyoród ranks third among Hungarian destinations visited by tourists, behind theDanube Bend area andLake Balaton, but ahead of Budapest.[5] The circuit hasFIA Grade 1 license.[6]
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The Grand Prix is held in the middle of summer, which is usually extremely hot and dry in this region. Its first wet Grand Prix race was in 2006. The circuit is normally dusty due to underuse throughout the rest of the year and its sandy soil. As the circuit is in a valley about 80 percent of it can be seen from any point.[7]
Normally, an underused circuit becomes faster over the weekend as the track surface gathers more rubber residue; however, with the Hungaroring this generally does not happen, because the track can get dusty so quickly. The track frequently becomes faster during a qualifying session, which leads competitors to try for their best lap as late as possible.
The twisty and bumpy nature of the circuit[8] makes overtaking very difficult in dry conditions, the circuit is nicknamed "Monaco without the barriers" for this reason. Nonetheless, the Hungaroring has been the scene of several memorable races such as the duels ofNelson Piquet andAyrton Senna,Nigel Mansell's win from 12th on the grid after a dramatic pass onAyrton Senna in 1989,Damon Hill's almost victory withArrows in 1997, andMichael Schumacher's change in strategy to beat the McLarens ofHäkkinen andCoulthard in 1998.[9] More recently, it has seen events such asJenson Button triumphing overFernando Alonso in the wet in 2006,Daniel Ricciardo scything through the field from sixth on the grid in 2014,Lewis Hamilton's late overtake onMax Verstappen to take the win in 2019, and Alonso producing a defensive masterclass to deny Hamilton a chance of victory in 2021. Maiden wins at the track include Hill in 1993, Alonso in 2003, Button in 2006,Heikki Kovalainen in 2008,Esteban Ocon in 2021, andOscar Piastri in 2024.
The first change in the track's layout was carried out in 1989, when the chicane after the actual turn three (a temporary measure put in during construction due to the discovery of a spring where the direct route was due to run) was removed by culverting the stream. In 2003, the main straight (turn one, see diagram) was lengthened by roughly 200 m (660 ft) to 908 m (2,979 ft), and the hairpin at the end of the straight was also tightened in an attempt to facilitate more overtaking opportunities, as well as a tightening of what was turn 12. These changes lengthened the circuit length from 3.975 to 4.381 km (2.470 to 2.722 mi).
Hungaroring has crowned two drivers in its 37-year history: bothNigel Mansell in 1992 andMichael Schumacher in 2001 were able to win the World Championship title. Moreover, theWilliamsF1 Team andScuderia Ferrari also secured the Constructors' Championship at the Hungaroring, Williams in 1996 and Ferrari in 2001, 2002, and 2004.
Both Hungary'sZsolt Baumgartner and Poland'sRobert Kubica made their debut on this track as the first F1 drivers of their countries.
The2006 Hungarian Grand Prix was the first wet grand prix at the Hungaroring. This saw the retirement of many drivers including championship rivalsFernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher and gaveJenson Button and the rebornHonda F1 team their first win. Fernando Alonso also earned his first Grand Prix victory at this in 2003, declaring it his favourite track as a result.
In 1990, Belgian driverThierry Boutsen won the race despite having run out of fuel close to the end. He got out of the car and pushed it across the finish line.
According to statements and interviews, drivers have different opinions on the track. While many, likeAyrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher,Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen[10] and Fernando Alonso claimed to love it, many others consider the track too slow, hot and demanding.[citation needed]The technical driving center of the Hungaroring held former racerGerhard Berger's name from 1998 until 2005 but later it was changed toAllianz.
The track also has named curves: Turn 4 is named afterNigel Mansell, due to him losing a wheel there during the 1987 Hungarian Grand Prix. Turn 11 is named afterJean Alesi following his massive crash there during qualifying for the 1995 Hungarian Grand Prix.
On Saturday, 25 July 2009, in the second round of qualifying for theHungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring,Ferrari driverFelipe Massa's head was injured, though protected by his driver's helmet, he was struck by a suspension spring that had fallen fromRubens Barrichello'sBrawn GP car while driving at high speed. He was knocked unconscious, and subsequently crashed head-on into a tyre barrier. Massa was thereafter airlifted to the military hospital in Budapest, where he underwent surgery in the area surrounding his left eye. His condition was initially described as "life-threatening but stable", but improved rapidly. Massa was discharged from hospital the following week and returned to Brazil. After further tests it was decided that Massa needed a titanium plate inserted into his skull to strengthen it for racing in Formula One again.
While most of the foreign fans are from Germany[5] and Austria, the Hungaroring has traditionally seen a large influx of Finnish fans as well. With the loss of theAustrian Grand Prix in 2003, this became the closestFormula One event for fans from otherCentral European countries. However, the Austrian Grand Prix returned again in 2014. The 2006–2010 races saw many spectators from Poland due to the participation ofRobert Kubica. Michael Schumacher's success in the 1990s brought tens of thousands of German fans to Hungaroring each year. The trend began in 1992 and continued throughout the 2000s until his retirement in 2006. Schumacher won at Hungaroring in 1994, 1998, 2001 and 2004, finishing second in 2000 and 2002.
The contract is prolonged until 2032,[11] although profits from tobacco advertising have been cut from the equation since such advertising was banned in 2007.
The Hungaroring is the home of Hungarianmotorsport. Besides Formula One, it has also hosted theDTM andFIA GT Championship races. Since 2011, it also hosts the races ofWTCC andWTCR asFIA WTCC Race of Hungary, a public drag race event takes place every month.
As of July 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Hungaroring are listed as:
Berto Camlek [sl] –Alpe Adria Road Racing Championship[61]
