Hamilton amongst F1 stars honoured as Hungaroring announces corner names to celebrate 40th anniversary

The Hungaroring has announced the new official names of its corners as part of the Hungarian Grand Prix’s 40th anniversary celebrations, with Lewis Hamilton amongst the stars to be honoured.

During last year’s event, fans were invited to take part in a vote on what the names should be. These suggestions were then reviewed by a panel of experts, which included motorsport professionals who have worked at the circuit since the inaugural Hungarian Grand Prix in 1986, as well as leading representatives of the specialist motorsport media.

The result has seen the likes of Hamilton, Nigel Mansell and Jean Alesi have corners named after them – and as part of the celebrations, all three of these drivers have also left their handprints, which will be cast in concrete and permanently installed in the run-off area of the circuit.

Each corner is now named as followed:

Turn 1 – Piquet

Named after Nelson Piquet, who won the first two Hungarian Grands Prix. The corner was also the scene of Piquet’s famous move around the outside of Ayrton Senna during the inaugural race in 1986.

Turn 2 – Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton is the Hungaroring’s most successful driver, having so far achieved eight victories and nine pole positions.

Turn 3 – Spring

With the track located in the Valley of the Three Springs, the name ‘Spring’ was fittingly chosen as one of the corner names.

Turn 4 – Mansell

As well as being the track where he claimed his World Championship in 1992, Nigel Mansell has also experienced other memorable moments in Hungary. The Briton had looked on course to win in 1987 when a right rear wheel nut came loose on his car, forcing him to retire from the running, while he went on to charge from 12th to victory in the race two years later.

Turn 5 – Mogyorod

The circuit is located within the municipality of Mogyorod, with Turn 5 being closest to the village.

Turns 6 & 7 – Driving Center

Named after the Hungaroring Driving Center, Hungary's first driver training facility, which opened in 1998.

Turns 8 & 9 – Buda/Pest

This corner complex celebrates the connection between the Hungaroring and Budapest, with the destination being popular amongst drivers, teams and fans alike.

Turn 10 – Danube

Chosen in honour of the Danube river, which flows through Budapest.

Turn 11 – Alesi

Turn 11 has long been known as ‘Alesi’ to fans – and now the moniker has become official, with Jean Alesi having overcome a crash at the corner during practice in 1995.

Turn 12 – Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is another driver to be honoured, the German having scored four wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix as well as securing his fourth World Championship at the circuit in 2001.

Turn 13 – Senna

The first polesitter at the inaugural Hungarian Grand Prix was Ayrton Senna, who would go on to become one of the sport’s all-time greats with three titles to his name.

Turn 14 – Szisz

Turn 14 honours Ferenc Szisz, the Hungarian-born engineer and head of Renault’s testing department who won the very first Grand Prix in history, held in France on June 26-27, 1906.