The Spanish Grand Prix has made a significant contribution to Formula 1’s long and storied history.
From Michael Schumacher’s performance in 1994, in which he finished second with just fifth gear available to him for most of the race, to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s crash as Mercedes teammates in 2016, Spain has played host to some dramatic moments.
It has been a regular on the Formula 1 calendar since the series’ second year in 1951, something that looks set to continue with the introduction of a new street circuit in Madrid from the 2026 season.
Before then, however, it is only right to look back at three drivers who took their maiden wins in the premier class in Spain.
Niki Lauda, Ferrari – 1974 Spanish Grand Prix
1974 was Niki Lauda’s first season at Ferrari.
With just two stop-start years in F1 under his belt, the Prancing Horse had taken a gamble on the Austrian.
Their faith was quickly rewarded, however.
In just his fourth race with the Italian outfit, Lauda put his Ferrari on pole by just three one-hundredths of a second at the Circuito Permanente del Jarama near Madrid.
The race would be more comfortable for the three-time World Champion, Lauda beating teammate Clay Reggazoni by 35 seconds in the 84-lap race.
Such was his dominance, Lauda lapped everyone from Emerson Fittipaldi in third onwards at least once.
It would be a sign of things to come, with the Austrian winning his first World Championship the following season in 1975.
Pastor Maldonado, Williams – 2012 Spanish Grand Prix
The 2012 Spanish Grand Prix was the fifth race on that year’s calendar.
The previous four in that season had all been won by different drivers:
- McLaren’s Jenson Button won in Australia
- Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso climbed to the top step in Malaysia
- Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg claimed his first ever F1 victory in China
- Reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel secured his first win of the season in Bahrain
With the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber still without a win, the big question heading to the Circuit de Catalunya, then, was could that streak continue.
Up steps Pastor Maldonado.
| The seven different race winners at the start of the 2012 Formula 1 season | ||
| Race | Winner | Constructor |
| Australian Grand Prix | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes |
| Malaysian Grand Prix | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari |
| Chinese Grand Prix | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes |
| Bahrain Grand Prix | Sebastain Vettel | Red Bull-Renault |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes |
The Williams driver was in his second season in Formula 1 and had finished no higher than eighth up to that point.
Yet he produced a magical lap to hold off home favourite Alonso and secure pole position on the Saturday.
He then backed this up with a masterful drive in the race, recovering after Alonso passed him off the line to take his first and only victory in Formula 1.
To this day, it remains the only time a Venezuelan has won an F1 race.
It was also the only time Maldonado appeared on the podium during his five seasons in the premier class and, to this day, remains Williams’ last Formula 1 victory.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing – 2016 Spanish Grand Prix
The 2016 season was dominated by Mercedes, teammates Hamilton and Rosberg winning 19 of the 21 races.
However, the aforementioned crash between the two Silver Arrows at that year’s Spanish Grand Prix opened the door for other drivers to claim their first victory of the 2016 season.
18-year-old Max Verstappen would be the one to take this opportunity.
Making his debut for Red Bull after the Austrian team had ruthlessly demoted Daniil Kvyat to Toro Rosso, the Dutchman qualified in a very respectable fourth position, three tenths behind teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
During the race, after Hamilton and Rosberg’s crash, Verstappen would run a better strategy by comparison to his teammate, giving him the jump over Ricciardo.
On track, it left the now four-time world champion to hold off the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen, something Verstappen did with maturity that belied his age.
By crossing the chequered flag first, Verstappen became F1’s youngest ever winner and the first Dutch driver to claim victory in the premier class.
In recent years, he has gone on to dominate the sport, something Martin Brundle predicted in the aftermath of the Red Bull driver’s maiden win.
Having also won the last three races held at the Circuit de Catalunya, Verstappen will be looking to continue that streak at the 2025 edition of the race.