Formula One reconvenes in Budapest this weekend for Round 14 of the 2025 season at the Hungaroring. With the summer break just days away, Alpine and VCARB arrive locked in a crowded midfield battle, looking to maximise one final opportunity before the shutdown.
Alpine: Momentum and Memories
Hungary has history for Alpine. It was the scene of Esteban Ocon’s first win for the team back in 2021, and a landmark 50th victory for the Enstone outfit overall. Fast forward to 2025 and Pierre Gasly heads to Budapest off the back of consecutive points finishes, with rookie teammate Franco Colapinto quietly making strides in his debut campaign.
Pierre Gasly: “That’s now two races in a row in the top 10. It would be great to continue that before the summer break. The Hungaroring is very different to Spa, but similarly relentless. I find it one of the most enjoyable circuits on the calendar. It feels like a go-kart track with quick corners all following one another.”
Colapinto has form here too. The Argentine finished on the podium in both 2022 and 2023 during his Formula 3 days and says the track’s rhythm and layout suit his driving style.
After Sunday’s Grand Prix, both drivers will stay behind for Pirelli’s 2026 Tyre Development Test, joined by Reserve Driver Paul Aron.
VCARB: Raw Pace, More to Come
VCARB’s Spa weekend showed promise but left little reward. A single point for Isack Hadjar wasn’t reflective of the team’s raw pace across both the Sprint and the main race. Still, both drivers believe Hungary offers a real chance to rebound.
Isack Hadjar: “We showed a strong performance last week in Spa. It was just a frustrating end of the weekend, as we deserved more than just a point. But the car seems to be in a really good window at the moment. Budapest is a track I like. It’s very twisty and technical, so we’ll be giving our all to fight for the points on Sunday.”
Liam Lawson: “The car has been very fast recently, so it’s important to build on that and keep improving. Hungary’s a different style of track, and I expect it’ll be even closer than Spa. We’re ready to extract everything we can from the car.”
Circuit Facts and 2025 Updates
The Hungaroring celebrates its 40th appearance on the F1 calendar this year with a host of updates. The main straight and pit lane have been resurfaced, and new concrete blocks with fencing have been added at Turn 14 on the left-hand side. The grass strip at Turn 5’s exit has also been replaced with gravel to improve safety margins.
- Track length: 4.381 km
- Total race laps: 70
- Race distance: 306.63 km
- Lap record: 1:16.627 (Lewis Hamilton, 2020)
- Pitlane speed limit: 80 km/h in all sessions
DRS Zones:
- Detection point: 5m before Turn 14
- Activation 1: 40m after Turn 14
- Activation 2: 6m after Turn 1
Tyre Strategy and Technical Demands
Pirelli brings the C3, C4, and C5 compounds to Hungary. These are among the softest tyres used in 2025 race weekends, though not the softest in Pirelli’s current range — the C6 compound has already made appearances earlier this year.
Tim Goss (VCARB CTO): “This is a circuit with multiple low to medium speed corners, some with full 180-degree radius. It demands downforce and confidence in the car. We’ve demonstrated strong tyre management this season, and that gives us confidence to fight for points again.”
With minimal straights to cool tyres and a relentless flow of corners, thermal degradation and track position will likely define the outcome.
Championship Picture
Oscar Piastri enters Budapest with a 16-point lead over teammate Lando Norris after his win in Belgium. Max Verstappen sits third in the standings. In the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren leads comfortably on 516 points, with Ferrari on 248 and Mercedes third with 220.
For Alpine and VCARB, the aim is simpler. Score solid points, finish strong, and go into the summer shutdown with momentum.