There was unprecedented interest in the 2023 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, where alongside the on-track competition, significant decisions and outcomes pertaining to the future were also reached. A prominent role fell to one of the most successful Hungarian racing drivers, Vivien Keszthelyi.
Hungaroring gets a makeover
The decision to renovate the race track was delightful news for the more than 303,000 fans who visited the event over three days. The refurbishment, approved by professionals, including the VRS Sport Group, is a key development in the life of the distinguished Hungarian track, enabling a contract extension to keep the racing circus at Hungaroring in the coming years.
United for a better future
The racing series leaders and prominent figures in motorsport, including the well-known Hungarian driver, Vivien Keszthelyi, used the attention garnered by the event to raise awareness on future-related matters throughout the weekend.
The messages emphasized by the homegrown athlete resonate with both the social commitment of Formula 1 and the initiatives of the Hungarian government: The collaboration with UNICEF aims to support the education of children in difficult situations. Concurrently, it aims to encourage more individuals, organizations, and companies to recognize the importance of sustainability in thought, decision-making, and action.
Hungarian driver at the forefront of the initiative
Despite her young age, the 22-year-old racing driver has been a household name in motorsports for nearly a decade. At the age of 13 - with age exemption - she stood out in the international field among adult men, and the initial momentum has not waned since. As the sole female member of the Audi Sport Racing Academy, she won championships with Audi TT race cars and later in the Audi R8 LMS GT Cup. After her touring years, she appeared in the Asian Formula series, where she also performed successfully, debuting as the first woman in the category. Considering the first Formula 3 season, she remains the top scoring Hungarian racing driver.
However, the talented young pilot is not only a pioneer in motorsport but is also well-known among her fans for her active role off the track.
Charity auction to help children
Helping children realize their dreams has always been among Vivien's most important personal goals. In this spirit, she met Panka in Mogyoród, a young lady harboring dreams of becoming a race engineer, who was inspired by Vivien's example and hopes to work with the Hungarian pilot as an engineer one day.
In addition to motivating the youngest members of Generation Z, this year's Hungarian Grand Prix was a particularly important event in Vivien's work for children. This is because she served as the host of a charity auction, addressing the fans. The online bidding for the Pirelli tire, offered as a reward for the fastest qualifier, and the Ferrari champagne given to the race winners on the podium, was entirely donated to UNICEF. The auction ended at The GR1D CLUB™ Budapest event held at FELIX Kitchen & Bar. The company that bid the most has already picked up their prizes.
The charity event and the messages conveyed by Vivien are perhaps more relevant than ever: As is the case with the official cooperation between Formula 1 and UNICEF, the Hungarian racer also aims to raise awareness about the importance of access to education for needy children.
Professional consultations on sustainability
Vivien Keszthelyi and her partner, fellow racing driver David Schumacher, visited Hungaroring over the weekend, where discussions focused on carbon neutrality, future alternative fuel research, and the sustainability views of Formula 1 participants. The cooperation of various stakeholders - drivers, stables, investors, sponsors, and fans - will be key in this regard in the future.
The couple, among others, visited the Aston Martin Aramco F1 team, whose investors are taking serious steps in the research of future alternative fuels. At their meeting last year, they discussed the possibility of introducing low CO2-emitting fuels into motorsports, and the ideas raised then were followed by actions, as from 2023 onwards, cars in the F2 series are already racing with such propulsion.
The BOLT taxi company also participated in the race weekend in the spirit of sustainability, as the official taxi service for the Hungaroring Formula 1 and the GR1D CLUB Budapest The Race After Party. This marked the first time at such a large-scale event in Budapest that all participants were transported exclusively by taxis with alternative drives.
So, this year's race weekend was one of the first events that highlighted the importance of helping children, environmental protection, and sustainability in its messages. With the cooperation of athletes, celebrities, and corporations recognizing the importance of social responsibility, a carbon-neutral future, and sustainable development, more attention can be directed towards awareness of these issues and the role of research.
Media Contact:
Zsolt Farkas
Phone: +36302080197
Budapest, Hungary
