Lewis Hamilton, the most successful Formula 1 driver in the history of the Hungarian Grand Prix with a record-breaking eight victories at the Hungaroring, is now on the verge of setting an unfortunate milestone in his current chapter with Ferrari as he prepares for the 2025 edition of the race.
The British driver has a rich legacy at the Budapest circuit, having secured his first Hungarian Grand Prix win during his debut Formula 1 season in 2007. His most recent triumph at the venue came in 2020, extending his dominance on a track that has often played to his strengths. In 2023, he appeared poised to secure a record-extending ninth win after clinching a surprise pole position—his first pole with Mercedes since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, despite that strong qualifying performance, Hamilton was overtaken at the start by Max Verstappen and ultimately missed out on the win.
As he approaches the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton is now at risk of matching an undesirable statistic—one previously associated with Ferrari legend Gilles Villeneuve.
Hamilton Edging Closer to Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari Podium Drought
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari in 2025 was met with high expectations, but the results have yet to match the hype. The seven-time World Champion now finds himself among the top three Ferrari drivers with the most Grand Prix starts without a podium finish. This particular list is not one that any Ferrari driver would wish to climb.
Although the Briton claimed victory in the Sprint race earlier this year in China, that result did not include a traditional podium ceremony. Therefore, it does not count as an official Grand Prix podium in Formula 1 records. As a result, Hamilton’s tally of races with Ferrari without reaching the podium has now reached 13.
That figure puts him just one race shy of equalling Gilles Villeneuve’s total. The Canadian driver went 14 races with Ferrari before finally achieving his first podium—a third-place finish at the 1978 Austrian Grand Prix. Should Hamilton fail to finish in the top three in Budapest, he would draw level with Villeneuve in this statistic.
Currently, Didier Pironi holds the unenviable record with 19 Grand Prix entries before reaching his first podium finish for the Scuderia. Hamilton has already surpassed Gerhard Berger, who went 12 races without a podium, by finishing outside the top three once again at the previous round in Belgium.
Hamilton Still Holds the Lap Record at the Hungaroring
Despite his current challenges at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton’s legacy at the Hungaroring remains unparalleled. He still holds the official lap record at the circuit—a 1:16.627, set during the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix behind the wheel of the dominant Mercedes W11. That car would later deliver Hamilton his seventh and most recent World Championship title.
Mercedes also has a history of producing strong qualifying performances at this venue. In 2022, George Russell secured his first-ever pole position at the Hungaroring, showcasing the team’s continued strength at the circuit even during more turbulent seasons.
Looking ahead to the 2025 race weekend, rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli could potentially add his name to that list if he manages to deliver a surprise pole position, just as Russell and Hamilton have done before him.
A Rare Statistic for Verstappen and Leclerc at the Hungaroring
Interestingly, the Hungaroring has also proven elusive for two of Formula 1’s current front-runners. Neither Charles Leclerc nor Max Verstappen has managed to start from pole position at the circuit during the ground-effect era, which began in 2022. This anomaly adds a unique twist to this year’s qualifying battle, with both drivers eager to finally conquer the one-lap challenge in Budapest.
As the Briton prepares for another race at a venue that has long been a symbol of his success, the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix could mark either a long-awaited breakthrough with Ferrari—or an unwanted place in the team’s statistical history. All eyes will be on whether he can reverse his form and avoid joining Gilles Villeneuve in a ranking that highlights prolonged podium frustration in the famous red car from Maranello.
Leave a Reply