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The Hungaroring is a motor racing circuit in Mogyoród, less than 10 km northeast of Budapest, Hungary which has hosted the Hungarian Grand Prix since 1986. The tight, twisty circuit is a favourite amongst a few of the drivers due to its tricky, challenging nature, but others dislike the lack of overtaking.

Due to its dusty surface, the circuit is very heavy on tyres and drivers often have to stop more often. The circuit is also quite hard on brakes, as there are at least three heavy braking points on each lap (turns 1, 6 and 11). Also, since the circuit is used in the height of summer, reliability is often a problem – retirements are common due to cars overheating and engine failures.

During qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix at the circuit, Felipe Massa was left with a fractured skull and a brain injury after being hit in the head by a torsion spring at high speed, which had become detached from Rubens Barrichello's Honda ahead of him. The impact knocked Massa unconscious as he careered into the tire wall on the outside of turn 4. While the Brazilian driver eventually made a full recovery, he missed the remainder of the 2009 season.

Circuit History[]

The Hungaroring was opened in June 1986 after eight months of construction. It was built on the outskirts of Budapest, near the town of Mogyoród. Situated in a valley, which makes ideal viewing for spectators, the circuit was laid down in less time that any other modern Formula One circuit. The first race at the new circuit was the Drapál Memorial Trophy in March 1986, three months before its official opening. Later that year, the Hungaroring played host to the inaugural World Championship Hungarian Grand Prix (a previous Hungarian GP had taken place in 1936, as a non-championship event), an event which has been held at the circuit every year since.

Circuit Layouts[]

The layout of the Hungaroring circuit has changed only very slightly since its opening in 1986:

Circuit Layouts[]

1986-1988[]

Hungaroring1986

The original circuit featured a clockwise layout with 16 turns. From the start line leads a long downhill straight with a right-hand hairpin at the bottom. Another shorter straight leads to a long, tight left. Down another hill, the circuit was originally to turn gently right, but had to be diverted into a tight right-left-right chicane to avoid an artesian well. Next is a fast left over a blind crest leading into a slower, longer right hander. A heavy braking point for a tight right-left chicane is next, followed by a series of left-right-left-right esses. After a mid-length straight with a sharp right kink, the track leads downhill into a tight left hander. Finally, back up the hill is a tight right hairpin which leads back to the finish line.

1989-2002[]

Hungaroring1989

In 1989, the chicane built to avoid a spring was bypassed. The original planned route was established in its place. The circuit was otherwise unaltered.


2003-present[]

Hungaroring

In 2003, the circuit was altered in two places in an attempt to improve overtaking. The run down to the first corner was lengthened and the corner itself was tightened to produce a heavier braking zone. Secondly, the back straight (turns 11-12) was lengthened and the sharp right hand kink turned into a 90-degree corner. As a result, turn 13 became much tighter. These attempts to improve overtaking proved ineffective, however, as overtaking barely improved at all.

Event history[]

Repeat winners (drivers)[]

Only includes World Championship events

Number of wins Driver Years
8 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
4 Germany Michael Schumacher 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004
3 Brazil Ayrton Senna 1988, 1991, 1992
2 Brazil Nelson Piquet 1986, 1987
United Kingdom Damon Hill 1993, 1995
Canada Jacques Villeneuve 1996, 1997
Finland Mika Häkkinen 1999, 2000
United Kingdom Jenson Button 2006, 2011
Germany Sebastian Vettel 2015, 2017

Repeat winners (constructors)[]

# of wins Constructor Years won
11 United Kingdom McLaren 1988, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
7 United Kingdom Williams 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997
Italy Ferrari 1989, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2015, 2017
5 Germany Mercedes 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
2 Austria Red Bull 2010, 2014, 2022

Year by Year[]

The following Formula One World Championship events have been held at the Hungaroring circuit:

Year Winning Driver Winning Constructor Report
1986 Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
1987 Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
1988 Brazil Ayrton Senna United Kingdom McLaren-Honda Report
1989 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Italy Ferrari Report
1990 Belgium Thierry Boutsen United Kingdom Williams-Renault Report
1991 Brazil Ayrton Senna United Kingdom McLaren-Honda Report
1992 Brazil Ayrton Senna United Kingdom McLaren-Honda Report
1993 United Kingdom Damon Hill United Kingdom Williams-Renault Report
1994 Germany Michael Schumacher United Kingdom Benetton-Ford Report
1995 United Kingdom Damon Hill United Kingdom Williams-Renault Report
1996 Canada Jacques Villeneuve United Kingdom Williams-Renault Report
1997 Canada Jacques Villeneuve United Kingdom Williams-Renault Report
1998 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
1999 Finland Mika Häkkinen United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2000 Finland Mika Häkkinen United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2001 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
2002 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Italy Ferrari Report
2003 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
2004 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
2005 Finland Kimi Räikkönen United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2006 United Kingdom Jenson Button Japan Honda Report
2007 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2008 Finland Heikki Kovalainen United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2009 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2010 Australia Mark Webber Austria Red Bull-Renault Report
2011 United Kingdom Jenson Button United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2012 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2013 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Germany Mercedes Report
2014 Australia Daniel Ricciardo Austria Red Bull-Renault Report
2015 Germany Sebastian Vettel Italy Ferrari Report
2016 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Germany Mercedes Report
2017 Germany Sebastian Vettel Italy Ferrari Report
2018 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Germany Mercedes Report
2019 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Germany Mercedes Report
2020 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Germany Mercedes Report
2021 France Esteban Ocon France Alpine-Renault Report
2022 Netherlands Max Verstappen Austria Red Bull-RBPT Report

Notes[]

V T E Hungary Hungarian Grand Prix
Circuits Népliget Park (1936); Hungaroring (1986 - Present)
Hungaroring
Races 198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Non-Championship Race 1936
V T E Circuits
AdelaideAidaAin-DiabAintreeAlbert ParkAlgarveAnderstorpAustinAVUSBakuBarcelonaBoavistaBrands HatchBremgartenBuddhBuenos AiresCaesars PalaceClermont-FerrandDallasDetroitDijonDoningtonEstorilFujiHanoiHockenheimHungaroringIgora DriveImolaIndianapolisInterlagosIstanbulJacarepaguáJaramaJeddahJerezKyalamiLe MansLong BeachLosailMagny-CoursMarina BayMexico CityMiamiMonsantoMonte CarloMontjuïcMont-TremblantMontrealMonzaMosportMugelloNivelles-BaulersNürburgringPaul RicardPedralbesPescaraPhoenixPort ImperialPrince GeorgeRed Bull RingReimsRiversideRouenSakhirSebringSepangShanghaiSilverstoneSochiSpa-FrancorchampsSuzukaValenciaWatkins GlenYas MarinaYeongamZandvoortZeltwegZolder
Other Circuits
BrooklandsDavidstowFioranoGoodwoodLinas-MontlhéryOntarioOulton ParkPauPosillipoRicardo TormoSnettertonSolitudeSyracuseVallelungaWestmeadLas Vegas
Bold indicates a circuit on the 2022 calendar.
The Red Bull Ring was previously known as the "A1-Ring" and before that the "Österreichring".
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