F1 | Hungaroring: phase 1 of work completed in view of the GP

Last year, the promoters of the Hungarian Grand Prix renewed their contract with Formula 1, extending the agreement until 2032 thanks also to a series of planned works that should give the Hungaroring a new face.

After around a year, the first phase of the redevelopment work on the track has been completed, with workers now pausing in the machinery to await the Grand Prix which will take place at the end of July. According to the original timetable, phase 1 included the completion of the retaining walls of the event area, the expansion of the paddock, previously among the smallest on the entire calendar, as well as the construction of two tunnels under the straight arrival, to which was also added the resurfacing of some parts of the route.

To meet deadlines, work at the circuit has been at full speed in recent months, with around 500 people working at full speed on site every day to complete the work and welcome fans for the Grand Prix weekend. Once this phase has been overcome, the workers will return to the track to continue with the redevelopment project which will last until 2026 and which will see the construction of a new, completely renovated central grandstand, as well as the area above the pits.

Four tower cranes and five mobile cranes worked on the site, installing 390 kilometers of pipes, as well as many other materials to complete the first part of the works, which also includes a new staircase leading to the spectator area. The buildings in the lower depot area were demolished and the new paddock, now 8,000 square metres, was built. Added to this are also landscaping works to ensure that the Hungaroring can host the Grand Prix in a suitable and more attractive environment than in the past, as well as the resurfacing of the main straight.

The latest works date back to 2016, when the track was completely resurfaced following the pilots’ requests, relying only on its financial resources, unlike this renovation project which is also supported by the government and is a necessary condition for the renewal signed with Liberty Average last year. In fact, the Hungaroring previously had a contract valid until 2027, but the approval of the second phase of the works which will start in the next few months after the Grand Prix has allowed the agreement to be further extended for another 5 years.

“It was incredible to see the pace of work and how much the Hungaroring has changed from week to week,” said Zsolt Gyulay, President and CEO of Hungaroring Sport Zrt.

Rendering of what the starting straight and the new grandstands will look like after the end of the works

“Those who arrive at the Hungarian Grand Prix will see that the redevelopment process which will last until 2026 has begun and has brought substantial changes. For years I have been underlining how in this new era for F1 the needs have changed, because the world has also changed of the business around F1. Today Formula 1 races are considered a four-day festival, and the circuits must adapt to meet these needs.”

A theme also highlighted several times by Stefano Domenicali, who often highlighted the works at the Hungaroring as an example for all the European stages in order to guarantee an agreement for the future. Liberty Media has placed particular attention not only on the economic aspect, which clearly remains central given the business needs, but also on the ability of the promoters to provide adequate facilities and activities for the spectators arriving at the track.

“I’m happy that we’ve taken the first step: the smallest paddock in the world championship has been expanded, the two tunnels have been built, the finishing straight has been resurfaced and the area behind the grandstand has also seen a major change. There are no abandoned buildings or construction sites in the area, which is very important to allow clean television coverage. FOM officials visited us recently and, according to their comments, they were satisfied with what they saw,” added Zsolt Gyulay.