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Formula One RaceDay Rewind – 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix

By Alex Herbst

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 6: Jenson Button of Great Britain and Honda Racing celebrates his first ever Formula One victory alongside Nick Fry after winning the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix at the Hungaroring on August 6, 2006 in Budapest, Hunagary. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 6: Jenson Button of Great Britain and Honda Racing celebrates his first ever Formula One victory alongside Nick Fry after winning the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix at the Hungaroring on August 6, 2006 in Budapest, Hunagary. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) /
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As a first in many respects for Formula One at the Hungaroring, the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix is one of the most memorable races at the track.

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The Formula One world championship has been racing in Hungary since 1937 and at the Hungaroring since the mid-1980s. The top racers in the globe will continue to run there through at least 2026, twenty years after one of the most memorable Hungarian Grand Prix races in history. It was a race of many records broken, including by both the race winner and manufacturer.

The race in Hungary was the first wet event in the history of the Grand Prix, with the rainy conditions allowing for some surprising names to rise to the top. At the end of the day, it would be Honda back in Victory Lane for the first time since the 1967 Italian Grand Prix, and it was ultimately the last time the Japanese national anthem has been played in a victory celebration in F1 since. The large amount of carnage in the race also allowed for only four cars to finish on the lead lap, and retired cars to finish as high as 8th place.

Kimi Raikkonen won the pole for the race, but would not see the finish of the event due to a collision. In fact, close to half a dozen cars would be forced out due to crashing under the wet conditions. The survivors would end up battling for the race win, with Jenson Button taking his first ever Formula One victory. Pedro De La Rosa would finish in 2nd for McLaren, his first ever podium finish. Nick Heidfeld, still racing today in Formula E, finished 3rd to give BMW Sauber their first ever podium result.

Here is the full version of the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, broken into two parts. Be sure to relive your favorite moments from the wet and wild race here.

Next: Mercedes Drops DTM, Joins Formula E

Be sure to tune in for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix from the Hungaroring, with live coverage in the United States on NBCSN and the NBC Sports app. Coverage begins with F1 Countdown at 7:00 AM eastern, followed by the race one hour later. Leigh Diffey, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett will have the call of the race, while Will Buxton covers the pits.

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