Lewis Hamilton beat Sebastian Vettel in the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend to take his sixth record title.
Driving for Mercedes Benz, Hamilton claimed victory while Vettel clinched second place in Ferrari, and teammate Kimi Raikkonen followed in third place.
Hungary’s foreign minister was also at the event and revealed that after next year’s racing weekend, investments as part of the strategic development program at Hungaroring will begin.
Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the plan is for F1 to occupy a full week rather than just a weekend.
Minister Szijjártó said that Budapest was ready and capable of holding such an event and the Hungarian Grand Prix next year will follow this rubric.
“After the 2019 race, we will make all the necessary changes according to the strategic development program, and as promised, resource allocations and legislative processes will be implemented in a timely manner,” the minister said.
“Hungaroring requires there to be a sustainable plan, and the elections have brought about … political stability. If the government decides something, it will happen,” he added.
Minister Szijjártó emphasized the economic benefits of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the contract for which is for up to 2026.
Last year, 30 billion HUF (93m EUR) of economic activity was realized after the F1 weekend in Mogyoród, the minister said, adding that the event had had a positive impact on GDP, with an increase in tax revenue “and a quantifiable media presence”.
The minister added that ticket sales have increased this year and Formula One is getting more publicity globally, so the economic impact is estimated to be even greater this year compared with last year.