In August, the 40th consecutive edition of the Hungarian Grand Prix takes place. It will do so at a new-look Hungaroring. Károly Méhes explores what has changed at the track over the winter.
When the Hungarian Grand Prix first took place as a round of the World Championship in 1986, it was like an earthquake to the Socialist camp. The 1986 Hungarian Grand Prix was the first Formula 1 race to take place behind the Iron Curtain. Until recently, the Hungarian Grand Prix has been one of the most traditional events on the F1 calendar, the facilities having changed little since F1’s first visit. But ahead of the 2025 race, it was time for things to change.
To put it mildly, the facilities of the Hungaroring were outdated. Forty years are forty years, almost history. When Liberty Media and the FIA agreed to extend the contract of the Hungaroring until 2032 they gave hard homework to the locals: they should – or, rather, must – reconstruct the whole paddock, control tower and grandstand, together with the start-finish straight.
It’s part of the legend of the track that the Hungaroring was built in just ten months from September 1985 until June 1986. Now, for the second time the Hungarians have managed the same feat. Only days after the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix took place last July, big bulldozers and grabbers took the place of the F1 cars and within weeks, the old Hungaroring buildings disappeared.
On June 19, 2025 the new-look Hungaroring was presented to the press – and the result is breathtaking. It is a state of art facility and the old F1 journalist, like me, of course, has some nostalgic sorrow. At the same time there is also a sense of happiness and positivity, because this track has a bright longer term future – possibly well beyond 2032.
Some bare facts: the costs of the upgrades were in the region of €195 million. It was mostly covered by the Hungarian government, bearing in mind that the Grand Prix is the best visited sport event in Hungary and also one of the best marketing tools for the country.
Altogether the newly built areas make 19 square meters, and the new paddock is a small wonder: the second biggest on the F1 calendar after Silverstone. Just one example: a single garage used to be 4 by 12 meters. The new one? 7 by 21 metres.
The famous old Marlboro bridge has vanished, too, meaning the pedestrian traffic will traverse through a new tunnel, under the main straight. Zsolt Gyulai, President of Hungaroring Ltd highlighted that the FIA already uses the Hungaroring as an example for other tracks which are due to undergo the same procedure.
On the other hand, the President also added that the works do not stop here and now, since for the coming year there are plans to build a new media parking lot, as well as a new grandstand at the final corner, Turn 14. Still, the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, the 40th in a row, will be a milestone and a new beginning. Maybe even the start of the second 40 years…!
