Hungarian Grand Prix 2021: Time, TV channel, live stream, grid

Finley Crebolder
Hungarian flag

Hungarian flag

Formula 1 heads to Budapest for the 11th round of the 2021 season, the 36th consecutive Hungarian Grand Prix.

The race at the Hungaroring has been a stalwart of the F1 calendar ever since it first hosted a race in 1986, being present every single season.

As a result of the global pandemic, the race there last season was unlike most, taking place earlier than usual – serving as round three – and without any crowds present.

One thing that wasn’t out of the ordinary though was the winner, with Lewis Hamilton tasting victory there for a record eight-time.

In front of packed grandstands, the Mercedes man will be aiming to make it nine to move onto 100 F1 career wins and move ahead of Max Verstappen to take the lead of the Driver’s Championship.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the race weekend in the nation’s capital…

When is the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix?

Practice 1: Friday July 30, 1130-1230
Practice 2: Friday July 30, 1500-1600
Practice 3: Saturday July 31, 1200-1300
Qualifying: Saturday July 31, 1500
Race: Sunday August 1, 1500

Where does the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix take place?

Hungaroring
Hungaroring

The Hungaroring joined the Formula 1 calendar in 1986 and has hosted a race every single year since then. It’s not g0ing anywhere anytime soon either, with a new contract being signed last year ensuring a round will take place there every year until 2027.

The nation always wanted a street circuit-style race and that’s very much evident, with the track being a very tight and twisty one. That makes overtaking there very difficult, leading to it being nicknamed “Monaco without the barriers.”

Some drivers, including Hamilton and Verstappen, are fans of the slower, more technical layout, but others feel it lacks some speed and excitement.

As well as having the most wins, Hamilton also holds the lap record for the race, doing a 1:16.627 in the 2020 edition. He also set the fastest outright lap there that year with his qualifying effort, a A 1:13.447

Where can I watch the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix?

In the UK, pay-TV broadcaster Sky Sports will show the entire race weekend, from FP1 to the race, on its dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel. You can also access a live stream of the coverage via Now TV. Free-to-air broadcaster Channel 4 will broadcast highlights across the race weekend.

F1 TV Pro viewers can watch all the live action from Budapest. Please check to see if F1 TV Pro is available in your country.

Subscribers to F1’s own app can hear radio commentary on the race proper and access live data throughout every session.

PlanetF1 will carry live timing and expert commentary on every session of the race weekend, from FP1 on Friday morning to the race on Sunday afternoon.

The Hungarian Grand Prix will be shown live on TV on the following outlets in other key markets:

United States: ESPN
Canada: RDS (French), TSN (English)
Australia: Fox Sports
France: Canal+
Italy: Sky Sport F1
Germany: Sky Sport F1
Spain: DAZN
Netherlands: Ziggo Sport
Brazil: Band
Japan: DAZN

What are the odds for the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix?

Here are the leading odds from Planet Sport Bet:

4/7 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

9/4 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

10/1 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

33/1 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

66/1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

(Last updated Saturday July 31)

What is the starting grid for the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix?

1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull
4 Sergio Perez Red Bull
5 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri
6 Lando Norris McLaren
7 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
8 Esteban Ocon Alpine
9 Fernando Alonso Alpine
10 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin
11 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren
12 Lance Stroll Aston Martin
13 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo Racing
14 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing
15 Carlos Sainz Ferrari
16 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri
17 George Russell Williams
18 Nicholas Latifi Williams
19 Nikita Mazepin Haas
20 Mick Schumacher Haas

What is the weather forecast for the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix?

Friday July 30 – 25c, sunny
Saturday July 31 – 24c, cloudy
Sunday August 1 – 23c, cloudy

Directions to the Hungarian Grand Prix

The Hungaroring is easy to reach for those arriving by plane, being close to Budapest and its International Ferihegy Airport. From there, you can hire a car and drive to the track or use public transport. You can also fly to Vienna and then travel to Budapest by bus or train.

By car, you can reach the circuit from Budapest by driving north-east on the E71/M3 towards Miskok.

For those taking the train to the nation, there are four main stations in the city but most international trains will arrive at Keleti station, on the M3 metro line.

With shuttle buses now connecting local train and metro stations to the circuit, the Grand Prix daily commute from Budapest is very simple.

Which drivers have won the Hungarian Grand Prix?

Conclusions from the Hungarian Grand Prix
Conclusions from the Hungarian Grand Prix

Hamilton has enjoyed more success than any other driver at the circuit, and by quite some way, winning eight of the 14 F1 races he has competed in there.

Michael Schumacher has the second-highest number of victories, triumphing on four occasions. The third of them, in 2001, was particularly significant as the win earned him his fourth World Championship.

The only other driver to win in Hungary more than twice is Ayrton Senna, who did so in 1988, 1991 and 1992. He could have had more too, just missing out in 1989 and 1990.

Nelson Piquet, Damon Hill, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Mika Hakkinen and Jacques Villeneuve have all won the race on two occasions.

The last 10 winners of the Hungarian Grand Prix are as follows:

2020: Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, Mercedes)
2019: Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, Mercedes)
2018: Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, Mercedes)
2017: Sebastian Vettel (Germany, Ferrari)
2016: Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, Mercedes)
2015: Sebastian Vettel (Germany, Ferrari)
2014: Daniel Ricciardo (Australia, Red Bull)
2013: Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, Mercedes)
2012: Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, McLaren)
2011: Jenson Button (Great Britain, McLaren)

What are the latest F1 Championship standings?

Drivers’ Championship

Max Verstappen – 185 points

Lewis Hamilton – 177 points

Lando Norris – 113 points

Valtteri Bottas – 108 points

Sergio Perez – 104 points

Constructors’ Championship

Red Bull – 289 points

Mercedes  – 285 points

McLaren – 163 points

Ferrari – 148 points

Full F1 championship standings are here

Tyre choices for the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix

Pirelli has gone down the middle with their tyre selections for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring.

This means that the C2 will be in use as the hard compound, the C3 will be the medium tyre, and the C4 shall serve as the soft.

Pirelli’s tyres range from C1 to C5, with the rubber becoming more grippy and faster as the number increases.