Thousands of Formula One fans from around the world gathered at the Hungaroring on Friday for the opening practice session of the 41st Hungarian Grand Prix.
The circuit’s newly renovated main building and grandstand area were already bustling more than an hour before the first cars took to the track. Drivers followed the traditional pre-session media schedule, appearing in groups of four for interviews at the fan stage near Turn 12, which was officially renamed after Michael Schumacher on Friday. At the same time, teams welcomed guests and hosted paddock and garage tours.
While mechanics prepared the cars, many spectators took advantage of the break to have lunch in the fan zones. Despite the growing crowds, queues remained relatively short outside the restroom facilities. Pleasant weather, significantly cooler than in previous years, also reduced demand for drinking water and other refreshments.
The expanded public areas introduced last year are now fully occupied by vendors. Ferrari and McLaren have each opened dedicated merchandise stores in addition to the official Formula One shop, giving fans more opportunities to purchase team apparel.
Merchandise prices are comparable with those typically found at major Western European sporting events. A McLaren team T-shirt costs around HUF 20,000, while jackets are priced at up to HUF 120,000. Ferrari merchandise ranges from HUF 17,000 to HUF 70,000, with premium items including Lewis Hamilton-branded jackets.
McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari remain the most popular teams among spectators. Orange McLaren clothing dominates the grandstands alongside Red Bull blue and Ferrari red, although the large number of Max Verstappen supporters dressed in orange makes it difficult to distinguish between McLaren and Red Bull fans from a distance. Despite championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s success and Mercedes’ strong season, the German team’s supporters appeared less numerous than those backing its main rivals.
High prices have not discouraged spending, with merchandise outlets attracting constant queues. One overseas fan joked that he bought four beers at once because he did not want to leave his seat every 20 minutes.
Many spectators told reporters they enjoy the Hungaroring’s unique layout and consider Budapest’s proximity one of the event’s biggest attractions. Several said they had travelled to Hungary for longer stays rather than just the three-day race weekend. Visitors included fans from as far away as Argentina and Brazil.
Among the few complaints was the loud music played behind the grandstands during breaks between on-track sessions.
The paddock also featured several new attractions. A mobile ice cream cart quickly became one of the busiest locations, while Hungarian artist Jázmin Anna displayed a collection of paintings depicting all 22 Formula One drivers at the invitation of Cadillac. Many of the drivers signed their portraits, and the artwork also featured in Formula One’s official television coverage.
The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend continues with qualifying on Saturday from 16:00 local time. Sunday’s race is scheduled to begin at 15:00 local time.
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