Circuit info
Hungaroring
Interesting facts
In 1986 this venue hosted Formula 1's first-ever race behind the Iron Curtain: built between October 1985 and March 1986 in barely eight months, the fastest F1 circuit build ever. It drew 200,000 spectators from across the Eastern Bloc, an attendance record that stood for almost a decade. Bernie Ecclestone originally wanted a race in the Soviet Union, but a Hungarian contact steered him toward Budapest instead, making Mogyoród the first Formula 1 venue behind the Iron Curtain. The track sits in a natural bowl, so most of the lap is visible from almost any single vantage point, a rare trait on the calendar. Its sandy soil makes the surface prone to dust, so early-weekend sessions are typically slower and greasier than later ones; the first genuinely wet Grand Prix here didn't happen until 2006. During 2009 qualifying, a suspension spring came loose from Rubens Barrichello's car and struck Felipe Massa's helmet; the Ferrari driver crashed into the tyre barrier unconscious and needed skull surgery with a titanium plate. At the 1997 race, Damon Hill built a lead of over 35 seconds in a markedly inferior Arrows-Yamaha, only for a broken 50-pence washer to jam his throttle three laps from the flag; Jacques Villeneuve passed him on the final lap, leaving it the closest Hill, and Arrows, ever came to victory. The tight, dusty layout is notoriously hard to overtake on; drivers often compare it to Monaco, just without the walls. Several corners are named after legends (Piquet, Mansell, Alesi, Schumacher, Senna), and Turn 2 was renamed for Lewis Hamilton after his eight wins there. The circuit is located in Budapest, Hungary. Formula 1 has raced here since 1986, with 41 races held so far, most recently in 2026. The first race here was won by Nelson Piquet, in 1986. The most recent winner here was Lando Norris, in 2026. Lewis Hamilton has won here more than anyone else, 8 times. Among constructors, McLaren has been the most successful here, with 14 wins. The lap record here is held by Lewis Hamilton, at 1:16.627 (Mercedes, 2020). The recorded top speed at this circuit is 352 km/h.