Formula One Hungary

Do you want to watch your favourite F1 team racing in Hungary in real life? Read the article and equip yourself with some useful tips about the Hungarian track.

Formula One Hungary

Formula 1 is a single-seated car racing sport that people either love or hate, I have never heard about anybody watching it only because they do not have anything better to do.

If you are one of the F1 fans and you wish to watch the upcoming F1 Hungary race in real life, I am going to provide you with some useful tips about the F1 in Hungary and about how to access the circuit in Hungary. 

Formula One has been racing in Hungary since 1986. The travelling Formula One circus usually reaches the Hungaroring (how the circuit near Budapest is called) in August.

F1 Hungary – Tickets

You can buy a standing ticket starting from 90 euros for the weekend (check your sector’s location when entering the track) or you can sit on grandstands where you can more comfortably enjoy the race for the min. of 115 euros for the weekend. There are 3 grandstand categories (bronze, silver and gold). If you are a massive fan, you can buy VIP tickets too. For more check this out: https://www.hungaroinfo.com/formel1/tickets_all_en.htm

Hungaroring – The circuit

Built in a natural bowl near Budapest at Mogyoród (20 km from Budapest), the tight, bumpy Hungaroring is a track where, after the moderately long 800 metre-ish start-finish straight, the corners then just keep coming – in fact, it’s often compared to an overgrown kart circuit. 

The length is: 4,381 km.

Useful Tips

1. Make sure you to take care of your means of transportation in time, because everybody will be driving to Hungaroring roughly at the same time and taxis may get too busy to pick you up, or the bus will be to full for you to be able to get on. Think ahead!
2. Have plenty of water and snacks with you. Although there are several food and drink stands where you can freshen up (the food and drink prices are super high too!), your seat or standing spot might be too far from them to stop by whenever you get thirsty.
3. It is the hottest month in Hungary (for more info read the Weather in August article) and you do not want to end up like a nice grilled chicken by the end of the day. There are not many shades at Hungaroring, you will be sitting/standing in the sun or rain the whole day. 
4. Sun cream, hat, a top that covers your shoulder and an umbrella are must-take items. 
5. Always check the weather forecast and pack your stuff accordingly. Remember: no shade, no cover!
6. Book your F1 Hungary tickets online as early as possible (in spring) to be able to reserve you sitting/standing space.
   Book your tickets here: https://www.gpticketshop.hu/main.php?Lang=EN

Where should you stay if you want to be close to the Hungaroring?

In Mogyoród: do not expect a 5* star hotel in Mogyoród, but if you are happy with a simple accommodation as well, type “Mogyoród, Pest county, Hungary” in any accommodation booking websites and you will get a lot of results for guest houses and apartments. These also sell very quickly, do book your overnight accommodation the latest in spring!

In Budapest: district 4, 10, 14 and 15 are the closest to Mogyoród. If you prefer a fancy hotel in the heart of Budapest, that is also ok as long as you stay on the Pest side of the city. If you cross the bridge towards Buda, you are going further and further away from the racing track.

For the best hotels in Budapest, click the link.

How to access the Hungaroring?

GPS of the main gate: N 47° 35′ 0.5″  E 19° 14′ 33.45″

By public transportation: 

Take the yellow Volánbusz (cross-country bus company) no. 320, 321 from Budapest, Újpest-Városkapu, or go to Örs Vezér tere and take the green train (H8), get off at Mogoród and take bus 321, 321, 324 or 325 to the Templom square. 

Templom square is the last stop of the buses. From here you will have to walk 1,4 km (roughly 20 mins) to reach the track. You can get a taxi, but prepare for a queue and extremely high prices.

If you are coming from Budapest city center, it will take at least 2 hours to get there!!!

By taxi:

If you go for this option, it can be a good idea to share a taxi with 3 other people to save some money. Taxi companies, unlike the buses, are allowed to reach the entrance of the track. Make sure you check which gate is the closest to your booked seat or sector.

Do book a taxi the day before to avoid the „Armageddon”, calling the taxi on the very day, may result in waiting a lot. The days of the car race are very high season for taxis. 

The taxi ride can take up to 45-90 mins depending on the part of the city you are going from. Check with the operator when you book your taxi!

The prices have been standardised, all taxis should charge you the same for a single kilometre, but separate taxi drivers may come up with a fix price for a ride, it is up to you if you take it or leave it. Prepare to pay a min. of 45 euros for the 20-km ride from the border of Budapest. 

Look for these taxi companies’ apps on your phone’s app store or give them a call:

• 6×6 taxi: +36 1 666 6666
• Tele5 taxi: +36 1 555 5555
• Főtaxi: +36 1 222 2222
• City taxi: +36 1 2 111 111

By car:

You can also drive there by a rented car. Take the M3 motorway to Mogyoród.

Check out the picture for the parking opportunities.

Directions: https://hungaroring.hu/en/contact/directions

Summary

If you have set your heart on coming to Hungary to watch your favourite team racing in real life at Hungaroring, you should also spend a few days in Budapest to discover this super buzzing and gorgeous capital. 

If you cannot make it to Mogyoród this year, do not worry, you can always watch the race on TV or online. Watch the highlights of the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2019: 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix highlights