Formula 1 officials are on alert regarding the deteriorating asphalt at the Hungaroring circuit, with concerns that worsening track damage could interrupt Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Drivers reported significant issues with the circuit’s surface during Friday practice sessions. The FIA has since initiated remedial works to address the problems.
Mercedes driver George Russell was among those to voice strong criticism. He described the circuit as ‘unusually difficult’ and ‘super bumpy’ after the initial practice sessions. Russell stated that a third of the track had been resurfaced, but ‘unfortunately they’ve done a really bad job’.
The problems are most acute at Turn 1, a critical overtaking zone, and around the final corners, Turns 12, 13, and 14. Drivers reported having to avoid the apex entirely to stay on stable tarmac. A ‘huge bump’ at Turn 1 has also been a significant concern for competitors.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri echoed these sentiments, calling the track surface ‘quite bizarre in a couple of places’. He noted that the new sections were ‘not very grippy’ and appeared ‘very worn’. Lando Norris, also from McLaren, described the inconsistent grip as a ‘lottery’ in certain corners.
Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, criticised the quality of the recent resurfacing. He stated it was ‘not to F1 standards’ when compared to the comprehensive work completed in 2016. Haas driver Ollie Bearman agreed, suggesting the old surface was superior.
The issues prompted an immediate response from the FIA. Race director Rui Marques and other officials conducted a track inspection on Friday evening. This followed concerns raised by drivers, including Max Verstappen, during the Friday night briefing.
Remedial works were undertaken overnight from Friday to Saturday. Two specific areas were addressed: one on the racing line and another to the right, where an overtaking car would typically travel. Hungarian Grand Prix organisers also attempted to compress various bumps.
Pirelli had flagged potential issues even before the race weekend commenced. Chief engineer Simone Berra revealed that the tyre supplier received feedback weeks prior that the track was ‘opening up’ from other championships. Berra indicated the abrasive surface could challenge tyre wear.
The higher-than-expected tyre degradation observed during Friday’s practice sessions suggests a two-stop strategy could be advantageous for Sunday’s race. Pirelli noted that teams would need to focus on protecting rear axles and managing front tyre degradation.
The FIA hopes to avoid a repeat of the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this season. That race saw a red flag due to similar track surface issues. Saturday’s FP3 session offered encouraging signs of improvement on the repaired sections, with fewer reports of lock-ups.
However, grip levels across the circuit remained low as rubber continued to build on the evolving track. Audi driver Nico Hulkenberg had previously described the resurfaced sections as a ‘patchwork’, highlighting the inconsistent nature of the new asphalt.
