Herend on the Formula 1 Podium
The name of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory is synonymous with handcrafted luxury and unparalleled Hungarian craftsmanship. As a world-renowned brand, it represents both tradition and innovation. At first glance, the meeting of this unique heritage with the high-tech world of Formula 1 might seem unusual, yet the collaboration between the Herend Porcelain Manufactory and the organizers of the Hungarian Grand Prix has become a model partnership.
The handcrafted Herend trophies are more than mere awards – they are works of art that represent Hungary with dignity at one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. Dr. Attila Simon, CEO of the manufactory, answered our questions about Herend’s connection to Formula 1, the design philosophy behind the trophies, the international response, and future plans.
The Inspiration Behind the Collaboration
Tell us about the inspiration for the cooperation between the Herend Porcelain Manufactory and the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. How does a Hungarian brand rooted in tradition connect to such a global, modern event, and what considerations go into designing objects for such a sporting occasion?
“Herend is a world leader in porcelain manufacturing, where, alongside successful business operations, we place great emphasis on social responsibility – captured in the ideas of value creation, preservation, and transmission,” says CEO Dr. Attila Simon. “We are a manufactory, not a factory, meaning that even today we create every piece entirely by hand. In our fast-paced, mechanized world, it is especially important for us to showcase artisanal techniques requiring exceptional human skill and representing high artistic value. The Herend porcelain trophies, created each year for the Hungarian Grand Prix, provide an excellent opportunity to present this craftsmanship to the world.”
At the mention of Herend, people everywhere think of flawless luxury porcelain. So do the organizers of the Hungarian Grand Prix, who for decades have entrusted Herend with the design and creation of the race’s winner trophies.
The traditional vase-shaped trophies have become iconic. Their neo-classical form echoes ancient vases, with the silhouette of the Hungaroring track appearing in the mirror of the design. Innovation comes through the unique hand-painted Herend pattern that is refreshed every year on the pure white porcelain surface. The trophies are adorned with noble metals, including 18-carat matte gold.
The constructors’ trophy – a Herend decorative plate – is further elevated by a pierced porcelain lace edge, created using a special porcelain-making technique.
Producing the trophies takes about six months. Each Herend porcelain trophy is a unique masterpiece made exclusively for that year’s Hungarian race – from the first touch of raw material to the final stroke of the painter’s brush. The winner of the Hungarian Grand Prix takes home a true one-of-a-kind work of art.
The Impact of Formula 1 on Herend
How is the impact of the Hungarian Grand Prix felt in Herend? Do you notice increased tourist interest during the race weekend? Are there visitors to the manufactory, and does demand for Herend products rise among international guests, VIP visitors, or sponsors? Are you aware of any Formula 1 teams or drivers with a special interest in Herend porcelain? Lando Norris’ moment on the podium recently brought particular attention to the brand.
Herend has built the Porcelanium Visitor Centre, where guests can discover the secrets of Herend’s porcelain-making in person. Enthusiasts of antique porcelain can admire centuries-old pieces in the Herend Porcelain Museum. Tradition meets innovation here – tens of thousands of tourists visit the centre annually. After the tour, at the Apicius Café and Restaurant, guests can choose their own cup to enjoy tea or coffee, experiencing firsthand how a drink tastes better from Herend porcelain. Many F1 tourists also make the journey to Herend during race week.
Lando Norris
One special highlight came when Formula 1 driver Lando Norris and his management approached Herend to design his racing helmet for the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, in tribute to the values embodied by Herend porcelain. The request reflected the brand’s globally recognized leadership in fine porcelain. The manufactory readily accepted, and after months of design work, created a Herend motif that wove vine-like patterns across the helmet’s surface. Out of Herend’s 800+ colours, turquoise-blue was chosen to create a truly unique, Hungarian-inspired design with the distinctive Herend aesthetic. One of the helmets worn by Norris during qualifying is now displayed in the Herend Porcelain Museum, delighting visitors.
Before the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris visited the Herend Porcelain Manufactory for the official helmet unveiling. He toured the workshops, tried his hand at porcelain-making, and learned about the value-creating work that has made HEREND a renowned luxury brand in some 60 countries. Among countless famous personalities, a Formula 1 driver can now be added to the list of visitors to Herend.
For F1 winners, receiving a Herend porcelain trophy is an expected tradition. As Sebastian Vettel once remarked, if he places at the Hungarian Grand Prix, he expects the trophy to be a Herend porcelain piece.
Herend in Luxury Hotels
Do you have partnerships with Hungarian hotels where Herend porcelain is used for service, or where it decorates suites and VIP spaces?
Herend has a long-standing relationship with the Four Seasons Gresham Palace in Budapest, where many VIP guests stay during the Hungarian Grand Prix. The manufactory designed an exclusive Herend porcelain collection for the hotel.
Gastronomic creations are served on the hand-painted “Gresham Ambience” (GRAM) Herend porcelain, a set designed exclusively for the Four Seasons Gresham Palace. The pattern combines 19th-century tradition with 21st-century innovation, the fish-scale design reflects the historic roots, while a motif from the Royal Garden pattern represents modern renewal. The service also features a stylized depiction of the Gresham’s main entrance, with decorative elements inspired by the palace’s mosaics.
Future Motorsport Collections
Are there plans for a themed collection or limited-edition piece inspired by motorsport or Formula 1 in the near future?
Product development at Herend focuses on creating style-defining pieces that keep the manufactory at the centre of domestic and international attention. With 16,000 different white forms and 4,000 patterns – combining to over 64 million possible variations – Herend produces about one new product design every day. Guided by the philosophy of Tradition, Innovation, and Progression, the manufactory continually adapts its centuries-old values for the 21st century, making its products appealing for future generations.
Soon, Herend will unveil a new creation linked to the world of Formula 1. Each year it will receive a unique Herend pattern specifically tied to that year’s Hungarian Grand Prix. This will be a true collector’s item for F1 and Herend enthusiasts alike.
A Message to First-Time Visitors
What message would you give to visitors encountering Herend porcelain for the first time in Hungary?
“Herend is a culture- and value-creating community dedicated to preserving and passing on its centuries-old heritage, where beauty, uniqueness, and quality are part of everyday life,” says CEO Dr. Attila Simon. “Our mission is clear: preserve the manufactory’s values, respect traditions, always choose artisanal porcelain-making, renew continuously, lead in style creation, surprise the world, and ensure the livelihood and growth of our creative community and employees. Herend is more than a registered business – it is an economic, social, and cultural community.”
The Herend brand is a symbol of quality, value, luxury, and elegance. Since 2001, the manufactory has been part of the Hungarian Heritage. Recognition of Herend’s excellence includes being named the most popular luxury porcelain brand in the U.S. by the New York-based Luxury Institute (2006), joining the prestigious Comité Colbert of French luxury brands (2011) as its only Hungarian member, and being declared a Hungarikum in 2013. The Budapest Stock Exchange ranked Herend among Hungary’s 50 most successful companies in 2019. These honours reflect a strong brand-building policy that has successfully drawn the attention of luxury consumers worldwide.
A symbol of this prestige is the Herend Porcelain Palace on Budapest’s József Nádor Square – a three-story, 500-square-metre showroom with a collection of 30,000 porcelain pieces showcasing the brand’s values.
Herend believes that since its founding in 1826, its accumulated expertise, the tradition of manufactory porcelain-making, the blending of kaolin, feldspar, and quartz, the secret recipes for porcelain paints, the commitment to excellence and innovation, and the beauty, elegance, and luxury inherent in the Herend brand together form the values that link the manufactory’s past and future.
Whoever wins this year’s Hungarian Grand Prix, at the awards ceremony, it will once again be Herend porcelain raised highest on the podium.
Heritage and Herend
The Herend Porcelain Manufactory’s work goes beyond porcelain-making – it is also a symbol of heritage, value creation, and national pride. Through its Formula 1 collaboration, Herend porcelain proves its timeless value and unique aesthetic each year in a new context and before a new audience. Whether it’s a unique trophy, a racing helmet, or hotel interior decor, the Herend brand consistently communicates elegance, craftsmanship, and Hungarian creativity.
Anyone visiting Hungary and discovering the world of Herend in person becomes part of a cultural and artistic heritage that carries values across generations – earning its well-deserved place among the world’s luxury brands.
Source: Herend Porcelain Manufactury
