Hungarian Grand Prix facts for kids
| Hungaroring (2003–present) |
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| Race information | |
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| Number of times held | 40 |
| First held | 1936 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Lewis Hamilton (8) |
| Most wins (constructors) | McLaren (12) |
| Circuit length | 4.381 km (2.722 mi) |
| Race length | 306.630 km (190.531 mi) |
| Laps | 70 |
| Last race (2024) | |
| Pole position | |
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| Podium | |
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| Fastest lap | |
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The Hungarian Grand Prix (which means Magyar Nagydíj in Hungarian) is a thrilling car race. It happens every year in a town called Mogyoród at the Hungaroring track. Since 1986, this race has been a part of the FIA Formula One World Championship.
Contents
History of the Race
Early Days of the Hungarian Grand Prix
The very first Hungarian Grand Prix took place on June 21, 1936. It was held on a special track built in Népliget, a park in Budapest. Big racing teams like Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union, and Ferrari (with their Alfa Romeo cars) sent their best drivers. A huge crowd came to watch this exciting event. However, because of world politics and the start of World War II, Grand Prix racing stopped in Hungary for 50 years.
The Hungaroring Circuit
In 1986, the Hungarian Grand Prix returned to the racing calendar. This was a big deal because it was the first Formula One race ever held behind the "Iron Curtain." The Iron Curtain was a political border that separated Eastern and Western Europe during the Cold War. The race takes place at the Hungaroring track, which is known for being twisty and narrow. It's located near Budapest in Mogyoród.
The first race at Hungaroring in 1986 attracted 200,000 fans! Even today, many people love to watch the race. A lot of fans come from Finland and Germany, while about ten percent are local Hungarian fans. The special trophies given to the winners are handmade and take about six months to create.
Because the Hungaroring track is narrow and twisty, it can be hard for cars to overtake each other. The track can also be dusty if it hasn't been used much. This often means that cars follow each other closely, waiting for a chance to pass. For example, in 1990, Thierry Boutsen managed to keep his slower Williams car ahead of Ayrton Senna, who was leading the championship. Senna just couldn't find a way past!
Race strategy, especially when to stop for new tires (pit stops), is very important here. In 1998, Michael Schumacher's Ferrari team changed his strategy during the race. This helped Schumacher build a big lead after his pit stops and win the race.
Even though passing is rare, some amazing overtakes have happened. In 1989, Nigel Mansell started from 12th place in his Ferrari. He passed car after car and eventually took the lead when Ayrton Senna was slowed down by another car. To make passing easier, the circuit was changed a little in 2003.
Memorable Moments at Hungaroring
Many drivers have won their first Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. These include:
- Damon Hill in 1993
- Fernando Alonso in 2003 (he was the first Spanish winner and the youngest Grand Prix winner at the time)
- Jenson Button in 2006 (a very exciting race with lots of incidents)
- Heikki Kovalainen in 2008 (he was also the 100th winner of a World Championship race)
- Esteban Ocon in 2021
- Oscar Piastri in 2024
In 1997, Damon Hill almost won in his less powerful Arrows-Yamaha car. But his car lost power on the very last lap, and he ended up finishing second. In 2014, Lewis Hamilton started from the pit lane (the area where teams work on cars). Even with this tough start, he still finished third, only six seconds behind the winner, Daniel Ricciardo.
In 2001, Michael Schumacher won his 51st Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. This win helped him secure his fourth Drivers' Championship, matching Alain Prost's record at the time.
The 2006 Grand Prix was the first time the race was held in wet conditions. Jenson Button started from 14th place and won his first-ever Grand Prix!
In 2020, Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix for the eighth time. This made him equal with Michael Schumacher for winning the same Grand Prix the most times. The next year was also unforgettable. Valtteri Bottas caused a big crash on the first lap in wet conditions. Many cars were involved, including Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. After a red flag stopped the race, Esteban Ocon ended up leading most of the race and won! It was the first win for his team, Alpine, since 2014.
The Hungarian Grand Prix will continue to be held at the Hungaroring for many years. In 2016, the track was completely resurfaced. The contract to host the race was extended until 2026, and then again in 2023, it was extended until 2032.
Race Winners
Drivers with Multiple Wins
These are the drivers who have won the Hungarian Grand Prix more than once. Drivers in bold are still racing in Formula One today.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton |
2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| 4 |  Michael Schumacher |
1994, 1998, 2001, 2004 |
| 3 |  Ayrton Senna |
1988, 1991, 1992 |
| 2 |  Nelson Piquet |
1986, 1987 |
| Damon Hill |
1993, 1995 | |
 Jacques Villeneuve |
1996, 1997 | |
 Mika Häkkinen |
1999, 2000 | |
| Jenson Button |
2006, 2011 | |
| Sebastian Vettel |
2015, 2017 | |
 Max Verstappen |
2022, 2023 | |
| Source: | ||
Winning Teams (Constructors)
These are the teams (constructors) that have won the Hungarian Grand Prix multiple times. Teams in bold are competing in Formula One today.
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | McLaren |
1988, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2024 |
| 7 | Williams |
1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
 Ferrari |
1989, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2015, 2017 | |
| 5 | Mercedes |
2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| 4 |  Red Bull |
2010, 2014, 2022, 2023 |
| Source: | ||
Winning Engine Manufacturers
These are the engine manufacturers that have powered the winning cars at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Manufacturers in bold are competing in Formula One today.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Mercedes * |
1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024 |
| 9 |  Renault |
1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2010, 2014, 2021 |
| 7 | Ferrari |
1989, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2015, 2017 |
| 6 |  Honda |
1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2006 |
| Source: | ||
* Between 1999 and 2005, these engines were built by Ilmor with funding from Mercedes.
Winners by Year
This table shows all the winners of the Hungarian Grand Prix each year. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
Images for kids
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The Hungaroring circuit layout from 1989 to 2002.
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The Hungaroring circuit layout from 1986 to 1988.
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The track layout in Népliget Park for the 1936 race.
See also
In Spanish: Gran Premio de Hungría para niños
