Formula 1 rolled into Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 14th round of the 2025 F1 World Championship—and the final stop before the paddock breathes out for its much-needed summer break. After the chaos and unpredictability of the previous Sprint weekend at Spa, the championship now reset to a more familiar rhythm with the return of the traditional Grand Prix format. The Hungaroring, a technical and twisting circuit that punishes lapses in concentration and rewards finesse, set the stage for a crucial mid-season showdown.
For McLaren, all eyes were on a potential continuation of their red-hot form. The Woking outfit had proven once again with a front-row lockout and 1-2 finish that they were clear favourites in Hungary. But memories run deep at this venue—none more so than for Oscar Piastri, who claimed a breakout maiden win here in the 2024 race. While McLaren may be overwhelming favourites, the Hungarian Grand Prix has a long history of unexpected twists.
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 1 August 2025 – 3 August 2025
Race date: Sunday, 3 August 2025
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Hungaroring
Laps: 70
Circuit length: 4.381km
2024 winner: Oscar Piastri
| Pole position | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | TBC | TBC | |
| Time | TBC | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | TBC | TBC | |
| Time | TBC | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | TBC | TBC | |
| Second | TBC | TBC | |
| Third | TBC | TBC | |
The Hungaroring has been a mainstay on the Formula 1 calendar since 1986, carving out a unique identity as one of the sport’s most technically demanding circuits. Nestled just outside Budapest, this 4.381 km track is famed for its tight, twisty layout that offers little margin for error and even less opportunity for overtaking—earning it the nickname ‘Monaco without the barriers.’ Despite its reputation, the Hungarian Grand Prix has delivered its fair share of unforgettable moments, from Michael Schumacher and his legendary three-stop strategy win in 1998 to Jenson Button taking his first-ever F1 victory in a rain-hit 2006 race. While Esteban Ocon and his shock win in 2021 still stands as one of the most popular underdog triumphs of the hybrid era.
On track, Turn 1 is the most obvious overtaking opportunity—particularly at race start or after DRS activation—but the fight often extends through Turn 2 and continues uphill to the fast, blind Turn 4. The narrow middle sector demands high levels of mechanical grip and tyre management, while the final corners test patience and balance.
With limited straights and relentless corner sequences, drivers liken the experience to threading a needle—lap after lap. It’s a circuit that rewards rhythm and punishes excess, often turning small mistakes into race-defining setbacks. As such, Hungary has become a test of skill, car setup, and strategy.
Weekend schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 August 2025 | Free Practice 1 (FP1) | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm local time |
| 1 August 2025 | Free Practice 2 (FP2) | 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm local time |
| 2 August 2025 | Free Practice 3 (FP3) | 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm local time |
| 2 August 2025 | Qualifying | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm local time |
| 3 August 2025 | Race | 3:00 pm local time |
In Saturday qualifying…
Come Sunday’s race…
Championship background
As the Championship headed toward its summer break, the title race was taking on a sharply defined shape, led, for now, by a resurgent Oscar Piastri. The McLaren driver delivered a masterclass in changeable conditions at Spa, converting poise and precision into a crucial victory that extended his lead over teammate Lando Norris to 16 points, who had gone into the race with two wins on the bounce. What was once a tight, multi-car battle was fast becoming a fierce intra-team duel, with Norris and Piastri now emerging as the clear front-runners for the 2025 crown.
Twelve months ago in Hungary, the seeds of that rivalry were planted when Norris stepped aside to allow Piastri to seal his maiden Grand Prix win after a controversial team strategy call. That decision may have shown unity then—but in 2025, the stakes were far higher.
Max Verstappen finished fourth in Belgium, behind a quietly consistent Charles Leclerc, hinting at a shifting of the guard and the fight to wear driver number 1 on the car for 2026. While the reigning world champion remained mathematically in contention, Red Bull and his grip on the championship appeared looser than it had been in years, especially with Leclerc racking up his fifth podium of the season. Meanwhile, Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton endured a dismal weekend at Spa with Sprint and Race qualifying exits. Still, the seven-time champion returned to one of his happiest hunting grounds: the Hungaroring, where he held a record eight wins before the 2025 race. Whether he can mount a comeback or simply play spoiler in the McLaren civil war remained to be seen—but one thing was clear: the 2025 title fight continued to be very much alive, and far from decided.
Race entries
The lineup of drivers and teams remained the same as the 2025 season’s entry list, apart from:
- A driver swap at the sister teams, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, where Yuki Tsunoda moved up to the parent Red Bull team and Liam Lawson headed in the opposite direction back to Racing Bulls, for round three at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
- Jack Doohan stepping out of the race seat at Alpine (post Miami), beginning with the following round, the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The team confirmed that former Williams and Alpine reserve driver, Franco Colapinto, would take his place alongside number one driver, Pierre Gasly.
- In addition, Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron continued his surprise mid-season loan spell with Sauber. After making his Formula 1 weekend debut during FP1 at the 2025 British Grand Prix, the highly rated Estonian driver got another shot behind the wheel—this time during FP2 at the Hungaroring, taking over from Nico Hülkenberg for the session.
Aside from these changes, all the drivers from the start of the season took to the track during FP1, FP2, FP3, Qualifying, and the Grand Prix.
Tyre choices
Pirelli opted for the same trio of slick compounds as the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix: the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft). While these were previously the softest tyres in the range, the introduction of the ultra-aggressive C6 compound in 2025 shifted that hierarchy. Still, the C6 remained far too soft for a circuit like the Hungaroring. Although the track doesn’t impose especially high loads in absolute terms, its short lap length means the tyres are worked hard and often, with cumulative energy build-up becoming a key factor over a whole race stint.
Thermal degradation is typically the name of the game in Hungary, with high ambient temperatures and a dark, heat-retaining tarmac surface making life particularly tough for tyre management. In 2024, the Hungaroring recorded the highest track temperature of the season—an asphalt-melting 58.6°C—which pushed teams to the edge of their thermal windows. Teams would expect similar conditions for 2025, where heat cycling and surface graining could become decisive variables.
FIND OUT MORE
Free Practice
FP1 report…
FP2 report…
FP3 report…
Free Practice 1 Classification
FP1 was held on 1 August 2025 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm local time.
Free Practice 2 Classification
FP2 was held on 1 August 2025 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm local time.
Free Practice 3 Classification
FP3 was held on 2 August 2025 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm local time.
Qualifying
Qualifying report…
Full Qualifying Report
Qualifying Classification
Qualifying was held on 2 August 2025 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm local time.
2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying session.
What happened in the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix?
Race report…
2025 Hungarian Grand Prix race results
The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Race was held on 3 August 2025 at 3:00 pm local time.
2025 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings for Drivers’ and Teams after the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix.
2025 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings
2025 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings
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