The Hungaroring itself may not be a fan or driver favourite but Hungary always welcomes Formula 1 with open arms as fans from all over Europe travel to show their support - creating a fanatical atmosphere.
With its mix of slow and medium speed corners, the track is undoubtedly one of the trickier ones to get right and is a real technical challenge with high downforce. It's more often than not sunny but rain is never out of the question and can spice up the action.
One thing that the track is often criticised for is its lack of overtaking opportunities which created rather processional races. However thanks to recent changes in the sport and the appearance of rain during a handful of the races, the action has been both dramatic and exciting.
Hungary and the city of Budapest is a team, driver and media favourite due to its stunning scenery, lively atmosphere and amenities which make it ideal for those travelling with the F1 circus. The city is also stunning in architecture with the main vocal point centred around the Danube river.
The track has narrow characteristics which contrasts heavily to the newly built tracks in Abu Dhabi and Austin and has the slowest average speed of the season besides Monaco.
The demands for the driver increase due to the Hungarian heat. Track temperatures can reach 50 degrees over the race weekend with air temperature rarely dipping below the 30's.
So lets take a look at the track, shall we? It kicks off on a medium length pit straight that goes downhill into the braking zone for the tight right-hand hairpin that is turn one. This second gear corner is - without doubt - the best overtaking spot on the circuit with its heavy braking zone.
Turn two is a slight right-hand sweep that makes up the fast blast on to turn three. It's another second gear hairpin that isn't as tight at the first corner and is almost 180 degrees. Turn four is a flat out right which leads on to a short straight before turn five - a right kink - and the fearsome fifth gear left-hander that is easy to get wrong. Fortunately there's plenty of run-off area to make up for any mistakes.
This marks the end of sector one and the start of sector two. Turn seven is a long, third gear right-hand turn that is crucial to get a good run on to the chicane that makes up turns eight and nine. This is also another good place to overtake but the narrow track and single-file characteristics mean that the move has to be done early, otherwise the driver on the outside would have to straight-line it.
The second part of the second sector is notoriously narrow and leads to a single-file format through turns 10 to 13. These are a fourth gear left which is followed swiftly by a third gear right. The speed builds up through the fifth gear turn 12 - which is left-hander - before the 13th and final corner of sector three. It is a high speed sixth gear right-hander which is tricky to master and is crucial for the medium speed straight that follows.
Turn 14 is a 90 degree second gear right-hander (yes, another right-hand turn) that is another potential overtaking place if the driver is committed and has a good run through the 13th corner. The penultimate turn is a 180-degree hairpin which is taken in second hear and goes left before the final turn.
Turn 16 is a tricky third gear right-hand bend which is a long turn that requires strong down force and using all of the exit kerb. However it is easy to take too much kerb and go off track. Just prior to the 16th turn on the circuit is the pit-lane entry. It is on the right of the track and follows inside the last turn. It is famous for David Coulthard's crash as he entered the pits, crashing on the exit of the hairpin.
The original Hungaroring that hosted the 1986 round of the Formula 1 World Championship looked slightly different. The first two sectors have remained largely unchanged but the final sector was considerably different. The back-straight was shorter and turn 14 was a fast right-left chicane that was taken at speed. This was followed by a short straight before the penultimate corner which was a medium speed left-hand turn in place of the tight second gear hairpin.
The first corner was also different with the 2003 modification changes extending the straight and replacing the faster hairpin with a tighter one that needed heavier braking. Fernando Alonso was the first driver to win on the modified track.
Of the current grid, Lewis Hamilton has the best record with three race wins. He won on his first visit to the track as an F1 driver in 2007 and then took a surprise victory in 2009 with McLaren after a torrid start to the season.
The Brit also fended off a tough challenge from Kimi Raikkonen to take the victory after the Finn managed to use a strategy difference to move ahead of team-mate Grosjean, Vettel and Button early on. However he could not displace Hamilton who was just too fast on the day.
Jenson Button is also another driver to have a strong history at the Hungaroring. He took his first ever Formula 1 victory there back in 2006 with the Honda team in what was the countries first wet F1 race. He also won it on his 200th race in 2011 after excelling in wet-dry conditions in what was a chaotic race.
Raikkonen, Alonso and Webber have all took a race win on the track. The former took victory in 2005 as he attempted to regain ground lost early on in the title battle to Alonso. The Spaniard had took victory himself two years earlier in what was his debut at the top step of the podium. Webber won the race in 2010, taking victory in dominant and effortless style.
The track splits opinion with the current crop of drivers. Some love it due to the fond memories - including Alonso, Hamilton, Button and Chilton - whilst others dislike the slow sectors and lack of overtaking.
So who's looking fast? Red Bull should be strong as will Lotus if the temperatures stay hot. Expect Mercedes to yet again qualify well but they could suffer from tyre degradation in the race. Ferrari have work to do if they want to get back at the front but the track should suit their car.
It is a popular circuit with fans with plenty of Finnish, Germany and Austrian fans travelling to the Hungaroring. It was also the closest race for Polish fans when Robert Kubica was racing in the sport.
Hungarian Grand Prix Fact-file:
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Track Length: 2.722 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16
Laps: 70
Gear changes per lap: 48
Full throttle: 56%
First race: 1986
Lap record: 1m19.071 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2012 race winner: Lewis Hamilton
2012 pole position: Lewis Hamilton
2012 fastest lap: 1m24.136 Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC)
 |
| (c) Sahara Force India F1 Team |
One thing that the track is often criticised for is its lack of overtaking opportunities which created rather processional races. However thanks to recent changes in the sport and the appearance of rain during a handful of the races, the action has been both dramatic and exciting.
Hungary and the city of Budapest is a team, driver and media favourite due to its stunning scenery, lively atmosphere and amenities which make it ideal for those travelling with the F1 circus. The city is also stunning in architecture with the main vocal point centred around the Danube river.
The track has narrow characteristics which contrasts heavily to the newly built tracks in Abu Dhabi and Austin and has the slowest average speed of the season besides Monaco.
The demands for the driver increase due to the Hungarian heat. Track temperatures can reach 50 degrees over the race weekend with air temperature rarely dipping below the 30's.
 |
| (c) Getty Images |
Turn two is a slight right-hand sweep that makes up the fast blast on to turn three. It's another second gear hairpin that isn't as tight at the first corner and is almost 180 degrees. Turn four is a flat out right which leads on to a short straight before turn five - a right kink - and the fearsome fifth gear left-hander that is easy to get wrong. Fortunately there's plenty of run-off area to make up for any mistakes.
This marks the end of sector one and the start of sector two. Turn seven is a long, third gear right-hand turn that is crucial to get a good run on to the chicane that makes up turns eight and nine. This is also another good place to overtake but the narrow track and single-file characteristics mean that the move has to be done early, otherwise the driver on the outside would have to straight-line it.
The second part of the second sector is notoriously narrow and leads to a single-file format through turns 10 to 13. These are a fourth gear left which is followed swiftly by a third gear right. The speed builds up through the fifth gear turn 12 - which is left-hander - before the 13th and final corner of sector three. It is a high speed sixth gear right-hander which is tricky to master and is crucial for the medium speed straight that follows.
Turn 14 is a 90 degree second gear right-hander (yes, another right-hand turn) that is another potential overtaking place if the driver is committed and has a good run through the 13th corner. The penultimate turn is a 180-degree hairpin which is taken in second hear and goes left before the final turn.
Turn 16 is a tricky third gear right-hand bend which is a long turn that requires strong down force and using all of the exit kerb. However it is easy to take too much kerb and go off track. Just prior to the 16th turn on the circuit is the pit-lane entry. It is on the right of the track and follows inside the last turn. It is famous for David Coulthard's crash as he entered the pits, crashing on the exit of the hairpin.
The original Hungaroring that hosted the 1986 round of the Formula 1 World Championship looked slightly different. The first two sectors have remained largely unchanged but the final sector was considerably different. The back-straight was shorter and turn 14 was a fast right-left chicane that was taken at speed. This was followed by a short straight before the penultimate corner which was a medium speed left-hand turn in place of the tight second gear hairpin.
The first corner was also different with the 2003 modification changes extending the straight and replacing the faster hairpin with a tighter one that needed heavier braking. Fernando Alonso was the first driver to win on the modified track.
 |
| (c) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
The Brit also fended off a tough challenge from Kimi Raikkonen to take the victory after the Finn managed to use a strategy difference to move ahead of team-mate Grosjean, Vettel and Button early on. However he could not displace Hamilton who was just too fast on the day.
Jenson Button is also another driver to have a strong history at the Hungaroring. He took his first ever Formula 1 victory there back in 2006 with the Honda team in what was the countries first wet F1 race. He also won it on his 200th race in 2011 after excelling in wet-dry conditions in what was a chaotic race.
Raikkonen, Alonso and Webber have all took a race win on the track. The former took victory in 2005 as he attempted to regain ground lost early on in the title battle to Alonso. The Spaniard had took victory himself two years earlier in what was his debut at the top step of the podium. Webber won the race in 2010, taking victory in dominant and effortless style.
The track splits opinion with the current crop of drivers. Some love it due to the fond memories - including Alonso, Hamilton, Button and Chilton - whilst others dislike the slow sectors and lack of overtaking.
So who's looking fast? Red Bull should be strong as will Lotus if the temperatures stay hot. Expect Mercedes to yet again qualify well but they could suffer from tyre degradation in the race. Ferrari have work to do if they want to get back at the front but the track should suit their car.
It is a popular circuit with fans with plenty of Finnish, Germany and Austrian fans travelling to the Hungaroring. It was also the closest race for Polish fans when Robert Kubica was racing in the sport.
Hungarian Grand Prix Fact-file:
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Track Length: 2.722 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16
Gear changes per lap: 48
Full throttle: 56%
First race: 1986
Lap record: 1m19.071 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2012 race winner: Lewis Hamilton
2012 pole position: Lewis Hamilton
2012 fastest lap: 1m24.136 Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC)
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