Hungary's Hungaroring has been the venue when the Hungarian GP is held since 1986, but may now have gained a rival with the Balaton Park Circuit. The new just-opened circuit is FIA Grade 1, making it an opportunity for Formula 1.
Balaton Park Circuit has FIA Grade 1 licence
Until 2027, the Hungaroring is still assured of a spot, but the 4.3-kilometre-long 'Mickey Mouse circuit' will have to invest time and resources so not to lose that spot on the F1 calendar after that year. Indeed, it seems that the Balaton Park Circuit, located some 100 kilometres below Budapest on Lake Balaton, could also lay claim to that spot.
The new circuit has only just opened and nothing has yet come out about the track management's wishes regarding Formula 1. However, the circuit is fully equipped to host an F1 race according to FIA standards. That makes it an interesting challenger to the Hungaroring for a spot on the calendar. The circuit is counter-clockwise and has 16 corners. There are currently 10,000 seats for spectators, but there is the possibility of expanding this to 120,000.