Hungaroring
Hungarian Grand Prix, Mogyoród, Hungary
The 2.7-mile Hungaroring circuit is all about negotiating tight, twisting corners rather than burning down straights – it’s “a street circuit without the houses”, as Martin Brundle put it. And because the track lies in a valley, most of it is visible at all times, making Hungary Grand Prix tickets a must for serious Formula One fans.
More than most tracks, it’s a real physical challenge for drivers. The need for continuous steering can be exhausting, which makes mistakes – and surprises – more likely. On top of that, conditions are usually baking hot and often dusty because the track is built on sandy soil and isn’t used that much during the rest of the year.
Recent modifications to make overtaking easier have included the removal of a chicane, the lengthening of the main straight, and the tightening of the final hairpin. However, overtaking remains difficult, so qualification – and therefore starting position on the grid – is critical. This makes the three-day ticket a particularly good deal here.
The track is in Mogyorod, 12 miles outside the absorbing capital of Budapest. In 1986 it held the first Grand Prix behind the Iron Curtain, after the front-runner Moscow was rejected as a candidate.
Some of F1’s great races have taken place here. In 2008 Felipe Massa spectacularly burst past Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen at the first turn, only to see his engine fail three laps from victory. Nigel Mansell won from 12th on the grid in 1989, Jenson Button recorded his maiden win in the first wet Hungary grand prix in 2006, and Damon Hill passed Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari in 1997, only for mechanical failure to stop him on the last lap. Fernando Alonso described the track as his favourite in 2003 after his first Grand Prix win here.
A Page & Moy grand prix package is the perfect way to see the race and discover Budapest, which is really two cities joined by the river Danube and four elegant bridges. It is a beautiful, hilly capital, which reflects its Austrian, Jewish and Soviet influences over the centuries, among others. Thermal baths are a popular way to relax and the nightlife will keep you entertained long after the race.
Take a look at the monument to the nation’s leaders at Heroes’ Square, the House of Terror, the Opera House, the Royal Palace complex and the Fishermen’s Bastion, where you’ll get some great views. Further afield, Lake Balaton to the south-west is a huge attraction for Hungarians and overseas visitors, and well worth a visit if you have time.
How to book
View our complete list of F1 packages to the Hungarian Grand Prix this year.