Hungarian GP chiefs knew "from the word go" they wanted to stage F1 this year

Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungarian GP chiefs knew "from the word go" they wanted to stage F1 this year

Hungary will host the third race of the season on July 19

Ian Parkes

Sunday 7 June 2020 16:01 Updated: 13:38

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Hungarian Grand Prix officials knew "from the word go" they wanted to stage a Formula 1 race this season regardless of the circumstances.

The behind-closed-doors event at the Hungaroring on July 19 will be the third race of the recently issued European calendar in which the first eight GPs of the revised 2020 campaign have been confirmed.

Hungaroring vice-president Ariane Frank Meulenbelt has told GPFans that not hosting a race was never on the agenda, even as many other circuits opted to either cancel or postpone their weekends.

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Asked as to when a decision was taken to stage a grand prix, Meulenbelt said: "I think right from the word go.

"The first conversations around tourism and the sector started way out in January when we were watching the situation unfold in China. As soon as we went into lockdown, to be honest, we made a call.

"We have regular contact with Liberty, speaking to all of the guys there on a regular basis. It was something that we did all along, and once it became very apparent the Covid situation was going to affect F1 more intensely than they had hoped, we got into a routine of talking once or twice weekly, just watching the situation unfold.

"Obviously, from their point of view, it was very important to get a handle on the actual situation in each country so that they could probably look at where the season could start first."

Meulenbelt has confirmed changes to the circuit's current contract with F1 has since been altered to reflect the situation. This has included a one-year extension to the agreement, which will now expire in 2027.

"We obviously can’t talk about where the contract has got to, but I think both parties were very realistic about the situation and were all interested in getting racing on the road, which was of utmost interest for both Liberty and for us," added Meulenbelt.

"So it was about making and finding some kind of agreement that works for both parties, and I think we’re happy to say that we have found an agreement. We’ve negotiated a deal that works as much for them as for us."

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