Hungarian F1 journalist and creator Károly Méhes seems to be again on a few of his greatest reminiscences from 40 years of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Our longtime contributor and good friend Károly Méhes, who has labored on the Hungarian Grand Prix as a journalist for 37 of the previous 40 years, remembers a number of the greatest on-track motion, incidents, drama and amusing anecdotes from the Hungaroring.
1986 Hungarian Grand Prix: The place all of it started
Rising up in communist Hungary, the thought that we might have a Method 1 race appeared inconceivable. However one particular person had a unique thought. Bernie Ecclestone. After three years of negotiations, and with the help of his Hungarian-born good friend, Tamás Rohonyi, Ecclestone made a contract with the authorities to carry the Grand Prix on the freshly constructed Hungaroring. And the remainder is historical past. The spotlight of the inaugural race was an audacious overtaking transfer by eventual winner Nelson Piquet on pole sitter Ayrton Senna.
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1987 Hungarian Grand Prix: Late-race drama
Nigel Mansell began from pole place for Williams and was on target for a commanding victory. However you’ll be able to by no means take something as a right in Method 1 till the chequered flag flies. 5 laps from the tip, a wheelnut got here free on Mansell’s automotive and he needed to half it on the grass, subsequent to the bend which right this moment bears his identify.
1989 Hungarian Grand Prix: Redemption for Mansell
It could solely be two years later that Mansell would style redemption on the Hungaroring. For 1989, Mansell had switched to Ferrari. He’s already recorded his first win for the Scuderia in Brazil, however had additionally had his justifiable share of technical failures. He solely certified twelfth on the Hungaroring, a circuit the place overtaking is notoriously troublesome. Not for “Il Leone!” Mansell carved via the sector to second behind Ayrton Senna, earlier than snatching his alternative to cross the extra highly effective McLaren when Senna hesitated for a second while lapping the slower Onyx of Stefan Johannson. Mansell went on to win by 25 seconds.
1992 Hungarian Grand Prix: Mansell’s lengthy wait is over
After near-misses in 1986, 1987 and 1991, the 1992 season belonged to Nigel Mansell. Driving the almighty Williams-Renault FW14, the British driver gained 9 out of the primary ten races earlier than the summer time shutdown. With solely six races remaining, Mansell was already in a position to clinch the title on the eleventh race in Hungary. And that’s precisely what he did. However not with out drama! After struggling a puncture, Mansell needed to make a second pitstop. The Briton was by no means within the hunt for victory – which went to Senna by 40 seconds – however crucially, his teammate and closest challenger, Ricardo Patrese, had retired, that means that Mansell would turn out to be World Champion in Hungary.
Learn Extra: Heartbreak & Triumph: Nigel Mansell on the Hungarian Grand Prix
1995 Hungarian Grand Prix: Unfortunate Inoue
Japanese driver Taki Inoue is much less well-remembered for his racing outcomes at backmarker groups Simtek and Footwork within the mid-90s than for an unlucky incident in the course of the 1995 Hungarian Grand Prix. After pulling off the monitor on lap 13 with engine failure in his Footwork, Inoue was hit by the protection automotive whereas retrieving a fireplace extinguisher! Fortunately, Inoue solely suffered a bruised leg (to not point out a bruised ego) and was match to drive for the following race. Watch the unlucky incident unfold right here.
1997 Hungarian Grand Prix: Heartbreak for Hill & Arrows
After profitable the drivers’ title with Williams in 1996, Damon Hill discovered himself with no seat for the next yr. Hill finally accepted a drive with Tom Walkinshaw’s Arrows group, however the Yamaha-powered automotive was hardly a frontrunner. However in a large change of fortune, Hill put his Arrows third on the grid for the 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix. He handed Villeneuve and Schumacher early within the race, then went on to carve out a lead of 35 seconds. With the chequered flag virtually in sight, the prospect of a maiden Method 1 win for Arrows (which had been competing in Method 1 for twenty seasons) disappeared with a heartbreaking hydraulic failure for Hill on the final lap. Villeneuve swept via to take the victory, with Hill having to accept a nonetheless fairly astonishing second place.
2001 Hungarian Grand Prix: Dominant Schumacher takes the title
On his method to changing into some of the profitable drivers of all time, Michael Schumacher loved a special occasion on the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix. Similar to Mansell in 1992, it was not a query of if however when and the place the German driver would seal the title for Ferrari. After one other dominant efficiency, Schumacher led dwelling his teammate Rubens Barichello for a 1-2, sealing his fourth World Championship.
2021 Hungarian Grand Prix: Crashes, a loopy restart and an surprising winner
Considered one of solely 4 races within the historical past of the occasion to have been affected by rain, the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix was eventful from lap one! On a moist monitor, Valtteri Bottas locked up going into the primary nook, taking out a number of drivers and ensuing within the race being purple flagged. When it acquired underway once more, the rain had stopped and everybody except Lewis Hamilton determined to pit for slicks and begin the race from pitlane. This left the weird sight of Lewis Hamilton taking the standing restart by himself! Hamilton pitted for slicks 4 laps later, handing the result in Esteban Ocon for Alpine. The Frenchman held the result in the tip for a preferred and really surprising victory. Watch the race highlights right here.
Learn Extra: Six F1 Drivers Who Scored Their Maiden Win on the Hungarian Grand Prix
2023 Hungarian Grand Prix: Lando breaks the winner’s trophy
As with nearly all of races in the course of the 2023 Method 1 season, Max Verstappen took a straightforward victory on the Hungaroring, with Lando Norris and Sergio Perez rounding out the highest three. The actual pleasure got here in the course of the podium ceremony! While performing his trademark transfer with the champagne bottle (hitting it on the bottom to attain extra fizz), Norris inadvertently knocked over Verstappen’s ornate porcelain winner’s trophy (made by the Hungarian firm, Herendi), inflicting it to fall off the podium and break! Watch the drama unfold right here. Norris was very apologetic, and Herendi introduced Max with a alternative trophy forward of the following race.
2025 Hungarian Grand Prix: New-look Hungaroring
The fortieth consecutive version of the race! To mark the event (and as a part of a long-term settlement to modernize the ageing Hungaroring circuit and preserve it on the calendar), a wholly new paddock constructing and predominant grandstand have been constructed. Bernie Eccleston, the person who introduced Method 1 to Hungary, was the visitor of honour.
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