The tight and twisty Hungaroring track offered a small ray of hope for the non-turbo cars but no-one could get close to Ayrton Senna's McLaren-Honda, the Brazilian taking pole by a tenth of a second from Nigel Mansell in his Williams-Judd. Thierry Boutsen was third fastest in his Benetton-Ford with Ivan Capelli fourth in his March-Judd ahead of Sandro Nannini's Benetton, Riccardo Patrese in the second Williams, Alain Prost in the second McLaren and Maurício Gugelmin's March. The top 10 was completed by Gerhard Berger's Ferrari and the Dallara of Alex Caffi.

At the start Mansell made a good start but Senna used the extra power of his Honda engine to get ahead by the time they arrived at the first corner. That was the end of it. Ayrton drove away to win. Mansell chased early on with Patrese third followed by the two Benettons and Berger but Prost moved his way up while Mansell had a spin and dropped back, leaving Patrese to lead the chase until a misfire dropped him back behind Boutsen and Prost. The Belgian was then overtaken by Prost and he began to close on Senna and challenged for the lead. He got ahead but overshot and so Senna went back into the lead and stayed there until the flag, although Prost was right behind him. Boutsen took third, Berger fourth, Gugelmin fifth and Patrese sixth.