Axl Rose steals the show at the Hungarian Grand Prix!

The 40th Hungarian Grand Prix wasn’t just about high-speed thrills: it also drew a glittering crowd of international A-listers to the Hungaroring in Mogyoród. The paddock was packed with celebrities, but it was Axl Rose, frontman of Guns N’ Roses, who captured everyone’s attention, and for good reason.

The rock legend stole the spotlight (and enjoyed an ice cream, too)

On Sunday, the arrival of 63-year-old Axl Rose sent a jolt through the pit lane. The iconic rock singer attended as a guest in the paddock and appeared to relish the atmosphere. He mingled freely, posed for fan photos, and even indulged in some ice cream amid the bustling crowd. At one point, he waved the checkered flag at the end of the race, unofficially signalling the conclusion of the Grand Prix.

Axl Rose Hungaroring F1 Concert 2025 August
Axl Rose, American songwriter-singer and lead vocalist of the American rock band Guns N’ Roses, at the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix on 3 August 2025. Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

“Everything is beautiful here, the vibe is amazing,” said Axl Rose, according to Blikk. The singer revealed that he’s a big Formula 1 fan and that his favourite driver is none other than Max Verstappen. Rose kept true to his signature style throughout race weekend, wearing eye-catching pants, a shirt, and sunglasses. He was escorted by two security guards but remained approachable, happily posing for photos with fans.

Axl Rose Hungaroring
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

Hollywood showed up, too

Axl Rose wasn’t the only global celebrity to attend this milestone Hungarian Grand Prix. Much to the crowd’s surprise, Anthony Mackie, best known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Captain America, was also spotted at the race.

On Saturday, Anya Taylor-Joy also made an appearance trackside as a guest of Ferrari. The actress, currently in Budapest filming Dune: Part Three, was accompanied by her husband, Malcolm McRae. While no official photos were taken, reports suggest two more Dune stars, Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, also visited the Hungaroring over the weekend.

Hungarian stars in the paddock

In addition to the international celebrity turnout, several well-known Hungarian figures were seen in the paddock, including Kata Dobó, Claudia Liptai, András Stohl, and András Arató, better known as meme legend “Hide the Pain Harold”.

Norris wins: this time without breaking a trophy

The race was ultimately won by British McLaren driver Lando Norris, marking his fifth victory of the season and ninth overall in his career. Unlike in 2023, when he accidentally broke Max Verstappen’s Herend porcelain trophy during the champagne celebration, Norris was more careful this time, making sure to safely store the trophies before joining the festivities.

All in all, the milestone Hungarian Grand Prix proved memorable not just for its racing, but also for its star-studded sideshow, and Axl Rose’s presence made it especially unforgettable for many fans.

Police numbers at the Grand Prix weekend

Police on duty at the past weekend’s Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix caught five individuals in the act of committing a crime, apprehended four wanted persons, and handed out 61 fines, according to the police.hu website. Police registered three misdemeanour charges over the weekend, most of them traffic-related, the Pest County Police Headquarters said in a statement on Monday.

No major incidents were reported over the course of the event, the statement said. Fully 1,500 police officers were on duty at the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix, including 18 from seven other countries. Patrols were also mounted on horseback and motorcycle and conducted from the air, as well as with dog-handlers.

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