The Hungarian Grand Prix marks the final round of the Formula 1 World Championship before the traditional summer break. The 2025 edition of the event is particularly special, as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of the race. To mark this important milestone, a series of renovation works have been carried out at the Hungaroring, including significant upgrades to the paddock area and the main grandstand, improving the facilities for both teams and spectators.
The first edition of the Hungarian Grand Prix took place in 1986 and represented a historic moment for Formula 1. It was the very first Grand Prix held on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain, a symbolic step in the global expansion of the sport. Since that inaugural race, the Hungarian circuit has continuously featured on the Formula 1 calendar every single year, making it the second-longest continuously used venue after the iconic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy.
Track Data and Brake Demands
According to the specialists from the Brembo Group—engineers who work in close collaboration with all Formula 1 teams and drivers throughout the season—the Hungaroring, with its 4.381-kilometer (2.72-mile) layout, falls into the category of circuits that place a medium level of stress on the braking systems.
On a scale from 1 to 5, the Italian braking experts have assigned the track a difficulty index of 3, even though the braking systems are used during just 20 percent of each lap. The circuit features 10 braking zones in total, but only 2 of them are considered heavy braking points. There are also 4 classified as medium, and the remaining 4 are light braking zones.
The Toughest Braking Zone
The most demanding braking point on the Hungaroring is the very first corner, which comes immediately after the start-finish straight. This section is the only part of the entire track where the Formula 1 cars exceed 300 kilometers per hour. In fact, the cars approach Turn 1 at a top speed of 307 km/h and decelerate sharply to just 95 km/h in the span of only 2.65 seconds, covering a distance of 122 meters during this process.
During this intense deceleration phase, drivers experience a g-force of 4.4 g and must apply a force of 156 kilograms to the brake pedal. The braking power required in this corner reaches an impressive 2,243 kilowatts.
Pole Position Is Not Everything
Despite being a twisty and technical circuit where overtaking opportunities are generally scarce, starting from pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix has not guaranteed victory in recent years. In fact, among the last six editions of the race, only one driver has managed to convert pole position into a race win: British driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
Even when considering a broader time frame—looking at the last 20 editions of the race—the pole-to-win conversion rate remains relatively low. It has occurred only six times, and on five of those occasions, it was achieved by seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. He accomplished this feat twice while driving for McLaren and three more times during his long and successful stint with the Mercedes Formula One Team.
The Evolution of Braking Systems
Although only four years have passed since the introduction of the current technical regulations, Formula 1 braking systems have undergone notable developments, thanks in large part to the continuous research and innovation carried out by Brembo. One key area of advancement has been the customization of brake calipers to better match the specific design characteristics of each team’s car.
The most significant change came in 2022, with the introduction of larger tire dimensions. This modification required a corresponding increase in brake disc size. As a result, front brake disc diameters grew from 278 millimeters to between 325 and 330 millimeters, while rear discs increased from 266 millimeters to between 275 and 280 millimeters.
In terms of thickness, both front and rear discs now measure 32 millimeters. Additionally, Brembo has increased the diameter of the cooling holes drilled into the discs, which rose from 2.5 millimeters in 2021 to 3 millimeters in the latest configurations. These changes are designed to improve heat dissipation, enhance performance consistency, and optimize safety over an entire race distance, especially on a track like the Hungaroring, where constant cornering puts thermal stress on the entire braking system.
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