In August, the fortieth consecutive version of the Hungarian Grand Prix takes place. It’s going to achieve this at a new-look Hungaroring. Károly Méhes explores what has modified on the observe over the winter.
When the Hungarian Grand Prix first occurred as a spherical of the World Championship in 1986, it was like an earthquake to the Socialist camp. The 1986 Hungarian Grand Prix was the primary System 1 race to happen behind the Iron Curtain. Till not too long ago, the Hungarian Grand Prix has been one of the vital conventional occasions on the F1 calendar, the services having modified little since F1’s first go to. However forward of the 2025 race, it was time for issues to alter.
To place it mildly, the services of the Hungaroring had been outdated. Forty years are forty years, virtually historical past. When Liberty Media and the FIA agreed to increase the contract of the Hungaroring till 2032 they gave onerous homework to the locals: they need to – or, somewhat, should – reconstruct the entire paddock, management tower and grandstand, along with the start-finish straight.
It’s a part of the legend of the observe that the Hungaroring was in-built simply ten months from September 1985 till June 1986. Now, for the second time the Hungarians have managed the identical feat. Solely days after the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix occurred final July, large bulldozers and grabbers took the place of the F1 vehicles and inside weeks, the outdated Hungaroring buildings disappeared.
On June 19, 2025 the new-look Hungaroring was introduced to the press – and the result’s breathtaking. It’s a state of artwork facility and the outdated F1 journalist, like me, after all, has some nostalgic sorrow. On the similar time there’s additionally a way of happiness and positivity, as a result of this observe has a vivid long run future – probably properly past 2032.
Some naked details: the prices of the upgrades had been within the area of €195 million. It was largely lined by the Hungarian authorities, making an allowance for that the Grand Prix is the very best visited sport occasion in Hungary and likewise among the finest advertising and marketing instruments for the nation.
Altogether the newly constructed areas make 19 sq. meters, and the brand new paddock is a small marvel: the second largest on the F1 calendar after Silverstone. Only one instance: a single storage was 4 by 12 meters. The brand new one? 7 by 21 metres.
The well-known outdated Marlboro bridge has vanished, too, that means the pedestrian site visitors will traverse by a brand new tunnel, underneath the primary straight. Zsolt Gyulai, President of Hungaroring Ltd highlighted that the FIA already makes use of the Hungaroring for instance for different tracks that are because of endure the identical process.
However, the President additionally added that the works don’t cease right here and now, since for the approaching yr there are plans to construct a brand new media parking zone, in addition to a brand new grandstand on the ultimate nook, Flip 14. Nonetheless, the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, the fortieth in a row, can be a milestone and a brand new starting. Perhaps even the beginning of the second 40 years…!
