Little overtaking, first wins and last year’s bowling to boot. This is the Hungarian Hungaroring

The Formula 1 season is approaching its summer break, which means one thing. We’re going to be fighting for championship points at the Hungaroring in Hungary. Before the race, let’s take a look at the circuit near Budapest, where this weekend’s race will take place. And it’s probably the key race this season.

The Hungarian Grand Prix has been a regular stop on the calendar since 1986. Back then, the circuit consisted of thirteen corners and measured just over four kilometres. Compared to today’s version, it had one less corner and 367 metres. During the transformation, however, the track changed its appearance only slightly.

The change came in 2003 to create more overtaking opportunities. Practically, but to no avail. The Hungarian races are more in the hands of team strategists who use pit stop tactics to get their drivers further ahead.

We can find several examples in history that overtaking at the Hungaroring is sometimes a superhuman task. We don’t have to go far back in history for one of them. In last year’s race, in which Esteban Ocon won sensationally, Fernando Alonso did not let Lewis Hamilton pass him for long. It should be added that the seven-time world champion had a much faster car than his rival.

Hamilton is also the most successful driver in history on the Hungarian track. He has triumphed eight times at the Hungaroring, with Michael Schumacher coming second four times. Among the constructors, McLaren and Ferrari mechanics were the most frequent winners. Their teams took eleven and seven victories respectively.

On the other hand, Heikki Kovalainen, the Finn who has been talked about as a future world champion, won his only victory here. Last year, Ocon scored his first F1 win. Damon Hill (1993), Spain’s Alonso (2003) and Jenson Button (2006) started their careers in Eastern Europe with their first wins.

The Hungaroring has also seen historical tables rewritten. In 2001, Michael Schumacher took win number 51 here, equalling Alain Prost’s record until then. In the same race, the famous German won his fourth world championship title.

Last year, rain intervened early in the race. And there was a major crash involving several drivers, which resulted, for example, in major damage to both Red Bull monoposts. Several cars retired from the race, leading to Williams’ first points in two years, the aforementioned win for Ocon and Max Verstappen’s brave drive with a damaged sidewall.

Ferrari could be strong in Hungary this year, traditionally suited to the slower corners. Moreover, the red monoblocs need to score some serious points to close the 82-point gap to Red Bull.

Unlike France, however, Hungary will continue to be raced for many years to come. The circuit has a contract until 2027, so we can look forward to more interesting moments, which the Hungaroring doesn’t bring so much of, but when they do, they are often worth it.

Sources