The FIA Formula One World Championship heads to the Hungaroring circuit, home of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the second leg of the final double-header before the 2026 summer break.
Featured permanently on the FIA Formula One World Championship since 1986, the Hungarian Grand Prix is a classic venue in Formula 1's rich history, celebrating its 41st edition this weekend.
The iconic Hungaroring circuit, a narrow, twisty permanent racetrack spanning 4.381 km (2.722 mi) over 70 laps, is located in Mogyorod, 20 kilometers from the capital city, Budapest.
Nicknamed "Monaco without the barriers" due to its tight nature, the layout features just one straight section and a sequence of 14 low-to-medium speed corners, with six turns to the left and eight to the right.
When it comes to overtaking, it becomes a rare form of art at the Hungaroring, where the most skillful drivers aim to master their abilities to execute a clean maneuver on the edge of the track limits.
Then, in the blink of an eye, they go from attack to defense in a circuit resembling a karting racetrack at a larger scale.
Also, it is particularly challenging on the brakes and tires as track temperatures often rise above 40°C.
Formula One official tire supplier, Pirelli, is bringing the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft) compounds to Hungarian soil.
Championship Standings
Mercedes arrives in Budapest as the leader of both the drivers' and constructors' championships with 204 and 358 points, respectively.
Last weekend, Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who tops the charts, took victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, his sixth win of the season after 10 rounds, expanding the gap to teammate George Russell to 50 points.
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton follows in second place on a 159-point tally with Ferrari.
After the Belgian GP, Russell, whose race ended early in the gravel as he made contact with Hamilton, sits third with 154 points.
Assessing the upcoming race weekend in Hungary, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Principal & CEO, Toto Wolff, outlined: "Hungary presents a different challenge to the circuits we have raced at recently. Silverstone and Spa are more energy-limited tracks; Budapest is much more energy-rich, which changes some of the demands on the car and the way you approach the weekend.
"As always, the field is competitive, and small details will make the difference," he added.
"Our objective is straightforward: execute a clean, reliable weekend, and score the points that the car is capable of achieving before we head into the summer break."
Reserve driver Frederic Vesti will be driving the W17 for the Brackley-based team in Free Practice 1.
Upgrades
Last year, Hungaroring underwent a major redevelopment, including a modern main building and a covered grandstand, featuring a seating capacity of 10,000, as well as a new podium terrace.
Nonetheless, its classic trademark layout remains unchanged.
The main straight received a new asphalt surface over a length of 620 metres to meet the highest international standards.
The adjacent event space and sustainable paddock facility were expanded, a transformation that consolidated the circuit as Hungary's largest event venue and sports facility.
According to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), this season, Turn 1 and 12 have been resurfaced from entry to exit.
As for the teams, Aston Martin and McLaren, which last season took a 1-2 podium with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, are both introducing an upgrade package this weekend.