Spanish Grand Prix
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The Spanish Grand Prix (
The event is due to take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya until 2026.[1] From 2026 until at least 2035 the race will be run at a new circuit near Madrid.[2]
History
Origins and pre-war
The first race generally considered to be a Spanish Grand Prix was held in 1913. Though not run to the Grand Prix formula of the day, instead it was a race for touring cars, taking place on a 300-kilometre road circuit at Guadarrama, near Madrid, on the road to Valladolid.[3][4] It was officially named the RACE Grand Prix[5][6] (after the Royal Automobile Club of Spain) and was won by Carlos de Salamanca with Rolls-Royce.
Motor racing events had taken place in Spain prior to that—the most notable among them being the Catalan Cup held annually from 1908 to 1910, on roads around Sitges, near Barcelona. The first event was won by Giosuè Giuppone on a Lion-Peugeot,[7] with both following events won by Jules Goux, also driving a Lion-Peugeot,[8][9] these races helping to establish a strong racing tradition in Spain, which has continued to this day. This enthusiasm for racing led to the plan to build a permanent track at Sitges—a 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) oval that became known as Sitges-Terramar, and was the site of the first race to officially carry the title Spanish Grand Prix in 1923, won by Albert Divo in a Sunbeam.[10][11]
Lasarte
After this first race, the track fell into financial difficulties, and the organisers had to look for another venue. In 1926, the Spanish Grand Prix moved to the 17.749 km (11.029 mi) Circuito Lasarte on the northern coast near Bilbao, home of the main race in Spain during the 1920s—the San Sebastián Grand Prix. The 1927 Spanish Grand Prix was part of the AIACR World Manufacturers' Championship, but the race was still not established and in 1928 and 1929 was run to sports car regulations. The 1930 Spanish Grand Prix for sports cars, scheduled for 27 July, was cancelled due to the bad economic situation following the Wall Street crash in October 1929. The 1931 and 1932 Spanish Grands Prix were also announced, only to be cancelled due to political and economic difficulties. Finally, in 1933 the Spanish Grand Prix was revived at Lasarte with government backing. Following the 1935 race, Spain descended into civil war and racing stopped. In 1946, racing returned to Spain in the form of the Penya Rhin Grand Prix at the Pedralbes street circuit in Barcelona.
Formula One
Pedralbes
Spain did not return to the international calendar until 1951, joining the list of races of the Formula One championship at the very wide Pedralbes street circuit in Barcelona. Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio won his first world championship at the 1951 event in an Alfa Romeo while he took advantage of the improved works Ferrari's tire problems. The race was scheduled for the 1952 and 1953 seasons but did not take place due to a lack of money,[12] and in 1954, Briton Mike Hawthorn stopped Mercedes's dominance by winning in a Ferrari. In 1955, the Spanish Grand Prix at Pedralbes was scheduled to take place, but a terrible accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that killed more than 80 people resulted in regulations governing spectator safety, and the scheduled Spanish Grand Prix (like many others) was cancelled that year and for the subsequent 2 years (also owing to more problems with money to hold the race), and the wide but pedestrian-lined street track at Pedralbes was then never used again for motor racing.
Jarama and Montjuïc
In the 1960s, Spain made a bid to return to the world of international motor racing—the
In 1968, Jarama hosted the Spanish Grand Prix, near the beginning of the F1 season. It was agreed, following this event, that the race would alternate between the tight, slow and twisty Jarama and the fast, wide and sweeping Montjuïc, and the Montjuïc circuit hosted its first Formula One race in 1969, with Briton Jackie Stewart winning. Jarama would get the race in even-numbered years, and Montjuïc in odd-numbered years. 1970 was a race that saw Belgian Jacky Ickx and Briton Jackie Oliver get involved in a fiery accident; with Ickx and Oliver escaping with burns. The race was won by Stewart, he won again the next year after holding off 3 more powerful 12-cylinder engined cars. Austrian Niki Lauda won his first of 25 races in 1974. The 1975 event was marked by tragedy. There had been concerns about track safety during practice races, as the Armco barriers surrounding the city streets of the Montjuïc circuit had not been fastened down properly. There were a number of protests, and the drivers refused to race. The organizers panicked, and they threatened to lock the cars inside the stadium where they stayed while not being raced. The drivers and teams relented; but double-winner Emerson Fittipaldi retired in protest after a single lap. On the 26th lap of the race, Rolf Stommelen's car crashed when the rear wing broke off, killing four spectators. The race was stopped on the 29th lap and won by Jochen Mass, though only half the points were awarded.
Jarama
After the tragic events at the dangerously fast and tight space of Montjuïc, the Spanish Grand Prix was confined to Jarama. The 1976 race saw Briton
Jerez
An attempt to revive the Spanish Grand Prix on a street circuit in the southwestern resort town of
Catalunya
Work on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was underway in Montmeló, few kilometres from Barcelona, thanks to the support of the Spanish government, and in 1991, the event moved to this new track, where it has remained since. The 1992 event was advertised as the Grand Prix of the Olympic Games. Since that race the race has been held in early season, usually in late April or early May.
The Williams team dominated the first outings there, taking all victories until 1994. Michael Schumacher has won a total of six times, including his 1996 victory in heavy rain, which was his first for Ferrari. Mika Häkkinen took three victories and was on road for fourth in 2001 before his car failed on the last lap.
Since 2003 the race has been well attended thanks to success of Fernando Alonso. Alonso finished second in 2003 and 2005 before taking victory from pole in 2006. Alonso also finished third in 2007, with two further second places in 2010 and 2012, where he finished behind the Williams of Spanish speaking Pastor Maldonado, who won from pole; this was the first win and pole in a Grand Prix for a Venezuelan driver and Williams's first win since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix and the team's first Spanish Grand Prix win and pole since 1997. Two Spanish drivers have won the Spanish Grand Prix; Carlos de Salamanca in 1913 and Alonso in 2006 and 2013, with Spanish speaking Juan Manuel Fangio winning in 1951 as well as Maldonado in 2012.
From 2013, the Spanish Grand Prix was due to alternate every year between Catalunya and the Valencia Street Circuit.[14] However, this did not happen—Valencia dropped out for financial reasons and Catalunya remained the sole host of the Spanish Grand Prix.[15]
Only four of the 19 races at this track between 2001 and 2019 have not been won from pole position.[16]
The 2020 race was postponed from May to August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race returned in 2021; Lewis Hamilton won the race after passing Max Verstappen after making an additional pit stop.
The layout of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya changed in 2023 to use the layout currently used by MotoGP since 2021.[17]
Winners of the Spanish Grand Prix
Multiple winners (drivers)
Drivers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season
A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 6 |  Michael Schumacher
|
1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
 Lewis Hamilton
|
2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 | |
| 3 | Jackie Stewart
|
1969, 1970, 1971 |
| Nigel Mansell
|
1987, 1991, 1992 | |
 Alain Prost
|
1988, 1990, 1993 | |
 Mika Häkkinen
|
1998, 1999, 2000 | |
 Max Verstappen
|
2016, 2022, 2023 | |
| 2 |  Louis Chiron
|
1928, 1933 |
 Emerson Fittipaldi
|
1972, 1973 | |
 Mario Andretti
|
1977, 1978 | |
| Ayrton Senna
|
1986, 1989 | |
| Kimi Räikkönen
|
2005, 2008 | |
 Fernando Alonso
|
2006, 2013 | |
| Sources:[18][19][20] | ||
Multiple winners (constructors)
Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
A yellow background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war European Championship.
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 12 |  Ferrari
|
1954, 1974, 1981, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013 |
| 9 | Mercedes
|
1934, 1935, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| 8 | McLaren
|
1975, 1976, 1988, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005 |
| Williams
|
1980, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2012 | |
| 7 | Lotus
|
1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1986 |
| 5 |  Red Bull
|
2010, 2011, 2016, 2022, 2023 |
| 3 | Alfa Romeo
|
1929, 1933, 1951 |
| 2 |  Bugatti
|
1926, 1928 |
| Sources:[18][19][20] | ||
Multiple winners (engine manufacturers)
Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
A yellow background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war European Championship.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Mercedes **
|
1934, 1935, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| 13 | Ford *
|
1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 |
| 12 | Ferrari
|
1954, 1974, 1981, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013 |
| 11 | Renault
|
1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| 3 | Alfa Romeo
|
1929, 1933, 1951 |
 Honda
|
1987, 1988, 1989 | |
| 2 | Bugatti
|
1926, 1928 |
| Sources:[18][19][20] | ||
* Designed and built by Cosworth, funded by Ford
** Between 1998 and 2005 designed and built by Ilmor, funded by Mercedes
By year
.svg)
A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
A yellow background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war European Championship.
A green background indicates an event that was part of the pre-war World Manufacturers' Championship.
* Sports car race
† Officially named as RACE Grand Prix
See also
References
- ^ "Formula 1 renews deal with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya until 2026". f1.com. 26 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ Benson, Andrew. "Spanish Grand Prix to move from Barcelona to Madrid in 2026". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ Marriott, Andrew. "Spanish Grand Prix". Motorsport Magazine. No. June 1969. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ISBN 0851126421.
- ^ "Gran Premio del RACE, official name at a newspaper promo". Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Gran Premio del RACE, by Pablo López Castillo". Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "La Copa Catalunya – Splendide victoire de Giuppone". L'Auto: 1. 29 May 1908. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
- ^ "La Copa Catalunya – Belle Victoire de Goux sur « Lion »". L'Auto: 1. 21 May 1909. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
- ^ "La Coupe de Catalogne – Victoire de Goux sur « Lion »". L'Auto: 1. 30 May 1910. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
- ^ "Announcement of the I Spanish GP". Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Divo, sur Sunbeam, remporte brillamment le Grand Prix d'Espagne". L'Auto. 29 October 1923. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via BnF/Gallica.
- ^ "Looking back: F1's Phantom Races". talkingaboutf1.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- ISBN 1787112373.
- ^ "Valencia pays 2012 fee, Spain to alternate from 2013". MSN Sport. MSN Sport. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
- ^ "No penalty as Valencia breaks F1 contract". grandprix.com. 12 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- ^ "Spanish Grand Prix: All you need to know after Lewis Hamilton takes pole". BBC Sport. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ Cooper, Adam. "Spanish GP drops final sector chicane for 2023 F1 race". www.motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Spanish GP". ChicaneF1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d Diepraam, Mattijs; Muelas, Felix. "Grand Prix winners 1894–2019". Forix. Autosport. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7603-0152-4– via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Cómo se desarrolló el GP de España 1929". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 29 July 1929. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Rigal, sobre Alfa Romeo, fue el ganador de la carrera". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 29 July 1929. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
External links
