Zsolt Baumgartner

Zsolt Baumgartner is a Hungarian former racing driver who raced in Formula One with Jordan and Minardi. He holds the unique distinction of being the only Hungarian driver to have ever competed in Formula One (as of writing this in 2025)—and the only one to score a championship point.

Nationality	Hungarian
Born	Zsolt Baumgartner 1 January 1981 Debrecen, Hungary

Formula One Career

Debut with Jordan: 2003

Baumgartner made his Formula One debut in front of a home crowd at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix, stepping in at Jordan to replace the injured Ralph Firman. It was a historic moment—not just for Baumgartner, but for Hungary, which had never before seen one of its own on the F1 grid.

He returned to the cockpit two races later for the 2003 Italian Grand Prix, again driving for Jordan. While neither appearance produced points, the young Hungarian gained valuable experience and set the stage for a full-time opportunity.

Minardi and a Full Season: 2004

Originally, plans were in place for Baumgartner to continue with Jordan in 2004, backed by sponsorship from Hungarian oil company MOL Rt. However, negotiations with Jordan broke down, and he instead signed with Minardi—the perennial underdog of the F1 grid.

MOL, disappointed with the switch, reduced its financial support, prompting Baumgartner and his management to launch a creative solution: the “Zsolt Baumgartner Supporter’s Club”. Inspired by Justin Wilson’s similar fan-funded campaign in 2003, the club aimed to raise sponsorship through grassroots backing.

Throughout the 2004 season, Baumgartner soldiered on in an uncompetitive car. Despite the challenges, he showed resilience. He narrowly missed out on points twice—ninth in Monaco and tenth in Canada—before finally breaking through.

Baumgartner’s defining moment came at the 2004 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. In a race of high retirements, he managed to stay out of trouble and bring the car home in eighth place—picking up a crucial point for himself and for Minardi. It was the team’s first point in over two years, and Baumgartner’s result etched his name in the F1 History books as Hungary’s first and only F1 points scorer.

He finished second-last in the race and was the final classified finisher, but it was enough. For a driver in a backmarker car, it was a hard-earned reward and a rare highlight in a season defined by determination rather than pace.