Hungaroring: the scene of the first victory

Often criticized, the Hungarian circuit nevertheless manages to surprise; since its debut in the world championship in 1986, four drivers have won on its winding track.

Budapest has quietly built a reputation as a springboard for future Formula 1 champions, and Esteban Ocon's triumph this weekend added a new chapter to that legend. After a first-lap collision that eliminated several contenders, Ocon drove his car to victory in a race that echoed three previous Hungarian wins that went on to world titles.

This trend began in 1993 when Damon Hill, driving a Williams-Renault, took the lead from the start and claimed his first victory on the streets of the Hungarian capital. Ten years later, Fernando Alonso, then 22, claimed his first victory for the new Renault team, marking the beginning of a career that saw him win two consecutive championships in 2005 and 2006.

Six years later, the 2006 Grand Prix was marked by rain and chaos, but it also saw Jenson Button claim his first victory after 113 starts, a win that foreshadowed his 2009 title. In 2008, Felipe Massa looked set to finish on the podium, but his engine failed three laps from the finish, giving Heikki Kovalainen an unexpected and ultimately unique Grand Prix victory.

Of these first four winners, three went on to become world champions exactly three seasons later: Hill in 1996, Alonso in 2006 (his second title), and Button in 2009. Ocon's latest success continues the tradition of Budapest serving as a decisive testing ground for drivers destined for the sport's highest honors.