Brad Pitt is already in Mogyoród as the 39th Hungarian F1 Grand Prix takes place this weekend.Continue reading
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri celebrated his first race win at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, writes Magyar Nemzet. The Australian driver was behind his team-mate Lando Norris at the second tire change, but was able to take back the lead.
After the scorching heat of Thursday and Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning saw milder weather with occasional cloudy spells at the Hungaroring (Mogyoród, near Budapest). However, on qualifying day, it was not the weather but two mistakes that extended the program: the session, starting in partly rainy conditions, was interrupted twice by Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez and an accident involving Cunoda Juki. Finally, Lando Norris and his team celebrated his second pole position of the year and third of their career. McLaren could not have been happier, as Oscar Piastri took the second best position. Third place went to defending world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
A reminder of the order they’ll storm down to Turn 1 in #F1 #HungarianGP https://t.co/SBWY3BB48u
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 21, 2024
Sunday’s race day started early, with the Formula 3 main event kicking off just before 8.30 a.m. This was followed by the filming of some more scenes for Brad Pitt’s F1 movie, and then the Formula 2.
40 minutes before the start, the first drivers did a few warm-up laps. In the meantime, the spectators were entertained by a folk dance performance.
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán
At 3 p.m., there was no sign of the cloudy weather from earlier, and the 70-lap race started in sunshine. Piastri took the lead at the start, followed by Verstappen, with Norris in third place. Norris was the first of the front runners to change tires, followed by Piastri. Verstappen took the lead, followed by the two Ferraris, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. After Verstappen also switched to hard tires at the end of lap 21, the two McLarens were back in front. When the front runners all changed tires, Piastri was in the lead, some three seconds ahead of Norris, with Lewis Hamilton third ahead of Verstappen. Towards the end of the race, Norris was repeatedly radioed by his team to let Piasri pass, but he refused to do so for a long time, but with three laps to go he was given a stronger warning than ever before. There was nothing more he could do, on lap 68 he slowed down and
let Piastri pass, who made no mistake and won the Hungarian race. Second place went to Norris, while Lewis Hamilton finished third.
Piastri holding the trophy, made by Herend Porcelain Manufactory. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
Piastri, who is in his second season and made his debut in F1 in 2023, won, while several drivers, including two former world champions, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, also claimed their first career victories at the Hungaroring.
OSCAR PIASTRI IS A FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX WINNER!
HE’S DONE IT AT THE HUNGARORING #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/foIq7krsNs
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 21, 2024
The points scorers of the 39th Hungarian Grand Prix:
Photo: MTI/Kovács Tamás
World Championship points standings after 13 races (11 to go):
McLaren’s 1-2 takes them second in the Constructors’ Championship #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/5pSm3TIaYS
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 21, 2024
Before the race, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó held talks with Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. The politician said that it is good news that everyone is very satisfied with Hungary, with the Hungarian organization and the Hungarian competition.
Everyone is of the opinion that Budapest and the Hungaroring should continue to be a Formula 1 venue.
He noted that “we now have a contract until 2032.” The Formula 1 management has asked for more innovations, investments and renovations. These were and are being carried out in two phases. The first phase of the renovation has been completed, with a finish photo before the event, as it was clear that there could be no construction work left unfinished at such a prestigious event, he explained.
When Formula 1 returns here next year, it will have a completely renewed main grandstand, main building, paddock and control center.
In addition to Péter Szijjártó, Minister Gergely Gulyás also discussed the future of the race in Hungary. The Formula 1 is important for the country from both a PR and prestige point of view, the Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office emphasized.
Minister Gergely Gulyás and Oscar Piastri (L-R). Photo: MTI/Kovács Tamás
He said that an important part of the negotiations had been concluded in recent years, with an agreement reached on the developments needed to ensure that Formula 1 could remain in Hungary in the long term. “The Mogyoród track is not the most modern, but that has only been true up until now, as a HUF 105 billion (EUR 269 million) development has been launched to ensure that the race can be held this year and next, but the track will look as it should by 2026,” added Gergely Gulyás. The politician stressed that this would give the opportunity for Formula 1 to remain in Hungary. In his view, F1 is a great experience for the 300,000 people who enjoy the event year after year, most of whom are foreigners, meaning direct revenue for the country, as they spend days or even a week here.
Asked about a possible increase in ticket prices after the renovation project, the minister said that although he was not the person in charge, the general idea was not to increase ticket prices as they are “already high enough”, but to increase capacity in the expensive category of tickets, mainly bought by foreign businessmen. “Where we can accommodate 900 people now, we will be able to accommodate 4,500,” underlined Gergely Gulyás.
Formula 1 continues next weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Via Magyar Nemzet; MTI; Featured image via MTI/Kovács Tamás
