F1 Team Form: Hungarian Grand Prix

McLaren have the most wins in Hungary, Alpine were victorious in 2021 and Mercedes have finished on the podium in all but one of the last ten seasons. Here’s everything you need to know about each team’s history at the Hungarian Grand Prix!

RED BULL

WINS: 3, POLES: 3, PODIUMS: 12 | 2022 RESULT: VERSTAPPEN 1st, PEREZ 5th

Red Bull have won the Hungarian Grand Prix three times. They took their first victory at the track since 2014 last year, with Max Verstappen winning from tenth on the grid. Verstappen had come close to winning the race in 2019, finishing as runner-up. He was also runner-up in 2020. Those were the team’s first podium finishes at the circuit since 2016.

Red Bull have suffered three DNFs in the last six seasons at the Hungaroring, though their maiden season in 2005 marks their only double DNF so far at the track. Verstappen finished only ninth with a damaged car in 2021, while Sergio Perez retired from the race.

2022 Hungarian Grand Prix podium. Image: © Andrew Balfour.
Image: © Andrew Balfour

Red Bull have had three pole positions at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and locked out the front-row at the track in 2010. Verstappen took his first pole position with the team here in 2019. Both drivers qualified in the top four in 2021 – the first time that has happened at the circuit since 2016 – but neither qualified in the top nine last year. While Perez was eliminated in Q2, engine issues prevented Verstappen from qualifying any higher than tenth – the team’s worst combined qualifying result at the track since 2006.

In the last 12 seasons there have been only four occasions on which a Red Bull driver has not reached Q3 at the circuit: Mark Webber in 2012, Daniel Ricciardo in 2018, Alex Albon in 2020 and Sergio Perez in 2022. The team have never had a Q1 exit at the track, with 2005 and 2006 being the only years where neither driver qualified in the top ten.

FERRARI

WINS: 7, POLES: 8, PODIUMS: 25 | 2022 RESULT: SAINZ 4th, LECLERC 6th

Since 1999, Ferrari have had only four non-finishes at the Hungarian Grand Prix. That’s quite a turnaround from the earlier years at the circuit, as the team recorded at least one DNF in every year at the event between 1986 and 1998, recording double non-finishes in 1987, 1990, 1994 and 1996.

Ferrari have taken seven wins at this track, and have recorded three 1-2 finishes. In the past nine years, there have been only three (2016, 2020 and 20222_ in which neither Ferrari driver has finished on the podium. Both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen finished in the top three in 2017 and 2018.

Carlos Sainz, 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix. Image: © Andrew Balfour.
Image: © Andrew Balfour

In 2020, Leclerc became the first Ferrari driver to finish in a position outside of the points since 2007, while in 2021, he recorded the team’s first retirement here since 2015. Both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished in the top six last year, despite some questionable strategy calls from the team.

In the last 15 seasons, Ferrari’s front row lock-out in 2017 and Sainz’s second place in 2022 are the only times any of their drivers have qualified on the front row. The team have had two further front row lock-outs in 2002 and 2004, and have taken pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix eight times in total.

There have been just five occasions when a Ferrari driver has failed to progress to the final part of qualifying at the Hungaroring, while Kimi Raikkonen’s 2014 Q1 exit is the only Q1 elimination for a Ferrari driver here. At least one Ferrari driver has qualified in the top ten in every single Hungarian Grand Prix.

MERCEDES

WINS: 5, POLES: 7, PODIUMS: 11 | 2022 RESULT: HAMILTON 2nd, RUSSELL 3rd

In all of their first four visits to Hungary from 2010 to 2013, Mercedes recorded one DNF in every race. They scored only three points here between 2010 and 2012, but their fortunes at the track began to change in 2013, when Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory with the team at the Hungaroring.

Mercedes have since won here four times, including in three of the last five years. After crashing at Turn 1, Valtteri Bottas recorded the team’s first retirement at the circuit in eight years in 2021. Since 2013, 2015 is the only year in which neither Mercedes driver finished on the podium in Hungary.

2016, 2020 and 2022 are the only seasons in which both Mercedes have finished on the podium at the Hungaroring. Hamilton and Rosberg recorded the team’s only 1-2 finish at the circuit in 2016.

Mercedes have failed to take pole only twice in the last ten seasons at the Hungarian Grand Prix. They locked out the front row in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021, while 2017 is the only time in the last nine seasons that neither Mercedes driver has qualified on the front row. George Russell recorded Mercedes only pole position of the season through conventional qualifying here in 2022.

The team has reached Q3 with both cars in all of the last eight seasons, with Hamilton’s fiery exit in 2014 being their only Q1 elimination so far at the Hungaroring. 2012 is the only season in which neither Mercedes driver appeared in the top ten shootout, with both Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher eliminated in Q2. Schumacher’s Q2 exit in 2010 is the only other non-Q3 appearance for a Mercedes driver at the track.

ALPINE

WINS: 2*, POLES: 3*, PODIUMS: 11* | 2022 RESULT: ALONSO 8th, OCON 9th

Team Enstone have won the Hungarian Grand Prix on three occasions. Michael Schumacher was victorious for Benetton in 1994, Fernando Alonso took his first career victory with Renault at the Hungaroring in 2003 and Esteban Ocon took his maiden win here with Alpine in 2021.

The team has taken a further nine podium finishes at the track, the most recent aside from Ocon’s win being for Kimi Raikkonen, who finished as runner-up with Lotus in 2013. In their most recent stint under the Renault name, the Enstone-based team scored points only twice. Carlos Sainz finished ninth in 2018, while Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth in 2020.

Fernando Alonso, Alpine, 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix. Image: © Andrew Balfour.
Image: © Andrew Balfour

The Enstone team has not recorded a DNF at the circuit since 2014. The team’s last double DNF at the track was in 2011. With Ocon winning and Alonso fourth in 2021, it was the first time that the team have finished with both cars in the top four in Hungary since 1994. The team scored with both cars once again in 2022.

Fernando Alonso was the last Enstone driver to take pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, doing so back at the 2009 race. Their unexpected 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix pole remains their latest pole position in Formula 1 to date. In 2021, the team recorded their first double Q3 appearance in Hungary since they were under their Lotus guise in 2013. Both cars qualified in the top six last year – the first time the team had done so since since 2013.

McLAREN

WINS: 11, POLES: 8, PODIUMS: 22 | 2022 RESULT: NORRIS 7th, RICCIARDO 15th

McLaren have taken more wins at the Hungaroring than any other team, with 11 wins and two 1-2 finishes in 1988 and 1999. In 2021, neither driver scored points. Lando Norris was eliminated on the opening lap, while Daniel Riciardo finished only eleventh. It was the first time since 2004 that the team failed to score at the circuit. Norris ensured a return to the top ten in 2022, finishing in seventh.

McLaren at the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix. Image: © Andrew Balfour.
Image: © Andrew Balfour

McLaren won five out of the six races in Hungary between 2007 and 2012, but haven’t finished on the podium since then.

McLaren have taken pole at the Hungarian Grand Prix on eight occasions, and have locked-out the front row three times. 2015 and 2018 are the only seasons where neither McLaren driver has qualified in the top ten in the history of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Lando Norris’ fourth place in qualifying last year was the team’s best Saturday result since their last pole here in 2012.

ALFA ROMEO

WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 1* | 2022 RESULT: ZHOU 13th, BOTTAS DNF

Between 2011 and 2018, Marcus Ericsson’s tenth place in 2015 was the only time that the Sauber team scored points at the Hungarian Grand Prix. In their new Alfa Romeo guise in 2019, Kimi Raikkonen finished seventh – the team’s best result at the circuit since 2010. Raikkonen scored a single point with the team in 2021, finishing in tenth place.

The Hungaroring is a track at which Sauber scored three podium finishes – all third places – in 1997, 2006 and 2007. Sauber also incurred the only disqualification in Hungary’s history up to 2021, with Robert Kubica being disqualified from his F1 debut as a result of his car being underweight.

Lap 1, 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix. Image: © Andrew Balfour.
Image: © Andrew Balfour

In qualifying for the 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen secured the team’s first Q3 appearance at the circuit since 2011. In 2022, Valtteri Bottas qualified eighth, recording the team’s best qualifying result at the Hungaroring since 2008. 2007 is the only occasion on which both of the team’s cars reached Q3 – with Nick Heidfeld recording the team’s best-ever Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying result with third place – while Robert Kubica’s fourth place in qualifying in 2008 is the only other time a Sauber driver qualified in the top six in Hungary.

In the last eight seasons, 2019, 2021 and 2022 are the only times that neither of the team’s cars have been eliminated in Q1 at the Hungaroring.

ASTON MARTIN

WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2022 RESULT: VETTEL 10th, STROLL 11th

In 2020, Racing Point scored more points at the Hungaroring in a single race than the Silverstone-based team had scored at the track in total in the 20 previous seasons. Both cars finished in the top ten, with Lance Stroll fourth and Sergio Perez seventh.

In their new Aston Martin guise, Sebastian Vettel would’ve added to the team’s points tally in 2020 – and recorded their best result at the track – if not for being disqualified from second place after failing to provide a fuel sample.

Force India recorded nine DNFs in total here, including double non-finishes in three consecutive years between 2013 and 2015. 2017 was the only season in which both cars finished in the points, with Perez finishing eighth and Esteban Ocon finishing ninth, while Paul di Resta’s seventh place in 2011 and Nico Hulkenberg’s tenth place in 2016 were the team’s only other points-scoring appearances here.

In their Jordan guise, Team Silverstone’s best result at the circuit was fourth, recorded by Damon Hill in 1998 and Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 1999.

2020 marked the first time that the Silverstone-based team reached Q3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix with both cars. The team locked-out the second row of the grid, with Lance Stroll qualifying third and Sergio Perez fourth.

In contrast, Force India reached the final part of qualifying here on only four occasions. The team had both cars eliminated in Q1 in 2018 and 2019. Both Force India cars were also eliminated in Q1 in both 2008 and 2009.

Last year, neither driver reached Q3. Lance Stroll qualified 14th, while Sebastian Vettel was eliminated in Q1.

HAAS

WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2022 RESULT: SCHUMACHER 14th, MAGNUSSEN 16th

In 2018, Haas finished with both cars in the points at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Kevin Magnussen finishing seventh and Romain Grosjean tenth. Magnussen’s tenth place in 2020 is the only other time that the team has scored at the circuit.

Both Grosjean and Magnussen ran within the top five at the track in 2020, a result of them pitting for dry tyres at the end of the formation lap. Grosjean recorded the team’s second retirement at the track in 2019 – the Frenchman having also retired in 2017.

Haas, 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix. Image: © Andrew Balfour.
Image: © Andrew Balfour

In 2021, Nikita Mazepin retried from the race after colliding with Kimi Raikkonen in the pit lane. Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher recorded the team’s best result of the year, finishing 12th. Neither driver scored in 2022.

2018 was the first time the Haas drivers reached the final part of qualifying at the circuit, having previously recorded three Q2 exits and one Q1 elimination. It’s Magnussen who has recorded the team’s best Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying position so far, with ninth on the grid – a result which Grosjean equalled in 2019.

While both Haas cars were eliminated in Q1 in Hungary in both 2020 and 2021, both Magnussen and Schumacher reached Q2 in 2022. Schumacher was unable to take part in qualifying in 2021 after wrecking his car in a crash in Free Practice 3.

ALPHATAURI

WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2022 RESULT: GASLY 12th, TSUNODA 19th

Since 2013, 2020 and 2022 have been the only seasons in which the Red Bull junior team failed to score at the Hungarian Grand Prix. They team recorded a double top six result at the track in 2021, with Pierre Gasly recording the team’s second- best result at the track with fifth place, while Yuki Tsunoda finished sixth. It was the first time both cars finished in the points since 2011. The team’s best result here is fourth, by Max Verstappen in 2015. The team have had only two DNFs at the Hungaroring in the last 12 seasons.

There have been only two seasons since 2013 in which neither Red Bull junior driver reached Q3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix. In 2019, both drivers were out in Q2, while both were out in Q1 in 2022. Last year marked the team’s first double Q1 exit at the track since 2006. 2018 is the only season in which both of the team’s drivers reached Q3 here, while Pierre Gasly recorded the team’s best-ever qualifying result at the circuit in 2021 with fifth place.

WILLIAMS

WINS: 7, POLES: 6, PODIUMS: 18 | 2022 RESULT: ALBON 17th, LATIFI 18th

From their first 26 entries at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Williams finished on the podium 16 times. Since then, third place finishes in 2002 and 2003 have been their only top three appearances. In 2021, both Williams drivers scored in Hungary for the first time since 2014. Between 2014 and 2021, Valtteri Bottas’ ninth place in 2016 was the only time that a Williams driver finished in the points at this track. Paul di Resta’s retirement in 2017 is their only DNF here in the last nine seasons.

Nicholas Latifi, Williams, 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix. Image: © Andrew Balfour.
Image: © Andrew Balfour

Williams have taken six pole positions at the Hungarian Grand Prix, including four front row lock-outs. The team have failed to qualify in the top ten with either car in each of the last six seasons in Hungary, recording their fourth double Q1 elimination at the circuit in 2022. Their last non-Q1 exits were in 2020, when both George Russell and Nicholas Latifi reached Q2. Russell’s 12th place in 2020 was the team’s best qualifying result at the circuit since 2016.

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