F1 impresario Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that the Hungaroring would have lost its right to run the Hungarian GP had it not complied with requested changes to its layout for 2003. The alterations to the track near Budapest will give it a main straight of almost 800m – 200m longer than the previous format – to promote more overtaking.

Completion of work is expected by July, the month prior to this year's race, and should cost in the region of four and a half million dollars. But, the overall result, especially after the new qualifying format tends to mix up the grid somewhat, will see an exciting event as drivers finally have room to overtake.

"This will mean higher speeds and greater opportunities for overtaking," confirmed Laszlo Palik, managing director of the circuit.