The Hungarian Grand Prix, often the final stop before Formula One’s summer break, has provided several memorable milestones for our team over the decades. From breakthrough moments to title-defining victories, the Hungaroring has been a happy hunting ground - and a place where history has been written in our colours.

While the circuit first hosted Formula One in 1986, our first triumph came eight years later, in the midst of a title-winning campaign.

Back then, the team was known as Benetton, and Michael Schumacher arrived in Budapest holding a 27-point lead over Damon Hill in the Drivers’ Championship. The pair locked out the front row, with Schumacher claiming pole position by over half a second.

Schumacher led 68 of the 77 laps, beating Hill by a commanding 20 seconds. A late twist saw Martin Brundle slow with an electrical issue on the final lap, handing third place to Schumacher’s Benetton team-mate Jos Verstappen - the first of only two podiums in the Dutchman’s F1 career.

Fast forward nine years to 2003, and the Hungarian Grand Prix was once again the scene of a breakthrough moment. From pole position, Fernando Alonso clinched his maiden F1 win, becoming at the time the youngest driver ever to do so - 22 years and 26 days - breaking a 44-year record held by Bruce McLaren. It was also a first Grand Prix victory for a Spanish driver, and Renault’s first win as a constructor in two decades.

Remarkably, Esteban Ocon was Alonso’s team-mate when he claimed his own maiden Grand Prix win - also in Hungary, and the first under the name BWT Alpine Formula One Team. The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix is a race that will live long in the memory.

At a damp start, chaos unfolded. Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas locked up into Turn 1 and triggered a game of F1 skittles: he hit Lando Norris, who in turn struck Max Verstappen, before Bottas continued on to collide with Sergio Pérez. Simultaneously, Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin launched into Charles Leclerc, putting Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren into a spin.

Amid the mayhem, Esteban Ocon emerged unscathed. Starting eighth on the grid, he avoided the chaos and stormed up to second by the exit of Turn 1. On lap 38, Ocon made his second stop and emerged just ahead of Sebastian Vettel. At that moment, Alonso had yet to pit, so the Alpine duo ran 1–2 at the head of the field.

After 70 dramatic laps, Ocon crossed the line in P1, just 1.8 seconds ahead of Vettel, with Lewis Hamilton a further second behind. “I mean, it is an awesome moment in my career, that’s for sure,” said an emotional Frenchman afterwards. “I don’t have words to describe it, but it’s the first win for the Renault Group since they came back to Formula 1. And I also want to say a special thanks to Fernando, who was fighting like a lion in that race — because that probably contributed to giving us a gap, giving us a bit of a breather [to win].”