Spain first hosted a Formula 1 race in 1951 at the Pedralbes street track. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been the permanent home of the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991.
In this piece, ahead of the fifth round of the 2014 season, I take a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the previous 43 F1 races in Spain.
Alonsomania
Fernando Alonso’s success in the mid-2000s helped to boost the country’s interest in the sport. He scored his first win on home soil in 2006, leading home Michael Schumacher by 18 seconds after dominating the event.
The crowd, naturally, went wild for the then-defending world champion, who was in a league of his own all afternoon. The reaction was similarly ecstatic last year after the Spaniard took his second victory at the 2.9 mile track. This time, he was joined on the podium after the tyre-dominated race by Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
Schumacher, the master of Montmelo
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is more specifically located in Montmelo. The most successful F1 driver at the track is Michael Schumacher, who won the Spanish Grand Prix a record six times. Undoubtedly his most memorable victory at the circuit took place in 1996.
Despite not having the fastest car, he controlled the race in torrential rain to win by 46 seconds from Jean Alesi and Jacques Villeneuve. The German driver made a poor start and dropped from third to ninth at the first corner.
He soon made up positions and took the lead on lap 13. He was unchallenged to the chequered flag, taking his first win for Ferrari. The race is a prime example of why he earned the nickname "Regenmeister" ("Rainmaster").
Two years earlier, whilst driving for Benetton, he finished second in Spain behind Damon Hill – who took the Williams team’s first victory of the year, two races after Ayrton Senna’s tragic death. The runner-up spot doesn’t sound particularly outstanding until you understand that he spent most of the race stuck in fifth gear and was forced to adapt his driving style just to hold on to his position and get the car home.
Schumacher’s more recent wins were more straightforward. He was promoted to first place on the last lap in 2001 after Mika Hakkinen’s McLaren broke down and (pretty much) cruised to the top spot on the podium in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Maldonado springs a surprise
Pastor Maldonado’s one and only Formula 1 race victory came as a shock to many, as he held off the Ferrari of Alonso to score the Williams team’s first win since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix. The Venezuelan was nowhere in practice but everything came together perfectly on Saturday and Sunday.
Photo-finish
Some of the closest ever finishes in the history of Formula 1 have taken place in Spain. In 1981, Gilles Villeneuve put in an incredibly defensive drive to win at Jarama after managing to hold off Jacques Laffite, John Watson, Carlos Reutemann and Elio de Angelis. The top five drivers were separated by just 1.24 seconds.
Five years later Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell were involved in a drag race to the finish line at the Circuito de Jerez. The Lotus driver just edged ahead to win by 0.014 seconds, which was a record that stood until the 2002 United States Grand Prix.
 |
| © Ferrari |
Alonsomania
Fernando Alonso’s success in the mid-2000s helped to boost the country’s interest in the sport. He scored his first win on home soil in 2006, leading home Michael Schumacher by 18 seconds after dominating the event.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The crowd, naturally, went wild for the then-defending world champion, who was in a league of his own all afternoon. The reaction was similarly ecstatic last year after the Spaniard took his second victory at the 2.9 mile track. This time, he was joined on the podium after the tyre-dominated race by Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
Schumacher, the master of Montmelo
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is more specifically located in Montmelo. The most successful F1 driver at the track is Michael Schumacher, who won the Spanish Grand Prix a record six times. Undoubtedly his most memorable victory at the circuit took place in 1996.
Despite not having the fastest car, he controlled the race in torrential rain to win by 46 seconds from Jean Alesi and Jacques Villeneuve. The German driver made a poor start and dropped from third to ninth at the first corner.
He soon made up positions and took the lead on lap 13. He was unchallenged to the chequered flag, taking his first win for Ferrari. The race is a prime example of why he earned the nickname "Regenmeister" ("Rainmaster").
Two years earlier, whilst driving for Benetton, he finished second in Spain behind Damon Hill – who took the Williams team’s first victory of the year, two races after Ayrton Senna’s tragic death. The runner-up spot doesn’t sound particularly outstanding until you understand that he spent most of the race stuck in fifth gear and was forced to adapt his driving style just to hold on to his position and get the car home.
Schumacher’s more recent wins were more straightforward. He was promoted to first place on the last lap in 2001 after Mika Hakkinen’s McLaren broke down and (pretty much) cruised to the top spot on the podium in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
 |
| © Williams Martini Racing |
Maldonado springs a surprise
Pastor Maldonado’s one and only Formula 1 race victory came as a shock to many, as he held off the Ferrari of Alonso to score the Williams team’s first win since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix. The Venezuelan was nowhere in practice but everything came together perfectly on Saturday and Sunday.
Photo-finish
Some of the closest ever finishes in the history of Formula 1 have taken place in Spain. In 1981, Gilles Villeneuve put in an incredibly defensive drive to win at Jarama after managing to hold off Jacques Laffite, John Watson, Carlos Reutemann and Elio de Angelis. The top five drivers were separated by just 1.24 seconds.
Five years later Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell were involved in a drag race to the finish line at the Circuito de Jerez. The Lotus driver just edged ahead to win by 0.014 seconds, which was a record that stood until the 2002 United States Grand Prix.
Here is my Spanish Grand Prix preview and track guide: http://bit.ly/1kEucsM
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