APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Hungaroring Turn 1 Repaired Overnight After Friday Driver Complaints
Circuit workers performed partial resurfacing at Turn 1 of the Hungaroring overnight following driver complaints about bumps caused by hot weather and sub-surface settlement.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-11T01:23:19.000Z - 2 min read
Track maintenance crews at the Hungaroring carried out partial resurfacing work at Turn 1 overnight following the opening day of practice for the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. Prompted by widespread feedback from drivers on Friday evening, circuit officials stepped in to address severe surface undulations that had compromised car stability through the track's heavy braking zone.
Driver dissatisfaction mounted throughout Friday's opening practice sessions as cars struggled with pronounced bumps along the entry to the first corner. The sudden degradation came as a frustration for paddock engineers and event organizers, particularly because portions of the Hungaroring track surface had already undergone resurfacing within the past two years.
The root cause of the sudden surface breakdown stems from recent weather patterns impacting the venue's foundation. A prolonged stretch of hot, dry summer weather across the region caused sub-surface settlement underneath the circuit, shifting the ground structure below the asphalt.
That sub-surface movement severely exacerbated existing undulations in the road surface. With cars hitting the braking zone at maximum speed, the aggravated bumps caused vehicles to bottom out heavily, unsettling chassis balance and generating consistent complaints from the drivers after their initial stints.
Faced with clear evidence of track deterioration, circuit authorities mobilized maintenance teams to perform targeted repairs throughout Friday night. Crews stripped back the compromised sections of Turn 1 and laid fresh asphalt across the affected zones to smooth out the surface before Saturday morning.
The Hungaroring remains one of the most distinctive venues on the Grand Prix calendar, famous for its twisty, continuous layout and narrow racing line. Because Turn 1 serves as the primary overtaking zone on the entire circuit, maintaining a stable and predictable track surface at the end of the main straight is vital for close wheel-to-wheel competition.
The fresh asphalt patch introduces a dynamic variable for teams to manage through the remainder of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Engineers must now evaluate how the newly laid surface interacts with tire wear and overall grip levels as track temperatures fluctuate and rubber builds up over subsequent sessions.