F1 Spanish GP: Top 5 moments from the Spanish Grand Priz: Formula 1 is heading to Spain for round six of the 2022 season, which takes place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This is a significant track as we have seen many special moments here. In this article, we take a look at the 5 most iconic moments from the Spanish GP. Follow Formula 1 Updates and Spanish Grand Prix on InsideSport.IN.
1. Michael Schumacher’s first-ever win for Ferrari
Michael Schumacher won his first Grand Prix win for Ferrari at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 1996. He started the race in the third position but lost several spots due to a clutch problem. However, the German driver then produced one heck of a drive in rain that earned him the nickname of ‘Regenmeister’ (Rainmaster). It was a start of an era as Schumacher later won four more races at the circuit.
The first victory in the @ScuderiaFerrari colours: Michael wins the Spanish Grand Prix on June 2, 1996 and celebrates on the podium with team boss @JeanTodt and second-placed Jean Alesi. #TeamMichael #KeepFighting @F1 pic.twitter.com/r3jQZO85ND
— Michael Schumacher (@schumacher) June 2, 2018
F1 Spanish GP: TOP 5 MOMENTS – From Michael Schumacher’s FIRST win for Ferrari to Pastor Maldonado’s SHOCK victory – Check out top 5 moments from Spanish GP
2. Pastor Maldonado shocks the world
Williams’ participant Pastor Maldonado won the 66-lap race from pole position in 2012, in what can be considered one of the major shocks in the history of Formula 1. It was Maldonado’s maiden and just Formula One triumph and the first for a Venezuelan driver. He was followed by Spaniard Fernando Alonso who completed second driving for Ferrari and Lotus’ Kimi Räikkönen was third.
An iconic moment in Formula 1 history 🤩
When Pastor Maldonado defied the odds to score his maiden victory, and @WilliamsRacing‘s first in 8 years 🏆#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/tNPfyymREy
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 6, 2021
3. Epic battles between two greats – Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna
Nigel Mansell was never a driver to abandon a race, and at the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix, he pushed the incomparable Ayrton Senna as far as possible. Subsequent to coming into the pits for new tyres, the British driver pursued the Brazilian at Jerez. However, Senna hung tight. In what was perhaps the nearest finish in Formula 1 history, the Lotus driver took the victory by 0.014s as the couple wasn’t done there.
In 1991 in Barcelona, the opponents fought during a damp race. Mansell was the victor this time, as sparkles flew when he passed Senna’s McLaren on the primary straight for the second position.
F1 Spanish GP: TOP 5 MOMENTS – From Michael Schumacher’s FIRST win for Ferrari to Pastor Maldonado’s SHOCK victory – Check out top 5 moments from Spanish GP
4. Heartbreak for Mika Hakkinen
Mika Hakkinen was in front of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari by nearly 40 seconds in the 2001 Spanish GP. It would have been his fourth successive triumph in Barcelona, but white smoke from the car signaled there were issues with the McLaren. All of a sudden, his Mercedes engine gave way and the Finn had to stop his car with only five corners to triumph. Schumacher passed to take the success, as Hakkinen left completely dejected.
Heartbreak for Hakkinen 💔
Engine failure saw him lose out on a memorable race win to Michael Schumacher on the last lap 😢#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/vPBeNNufoY
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 13, 2020
5. When friends became foes – the infamous Lewis Hamilton-Nico Rosberg collision
After a decent beginning for both Mercedes drivers in the 2016 Spanish GP, Nico Rosberg passed teammate Lewis Hamilton on turn 1. Getting through the following couple of corners, Rosberg’s vehicle entered an incorrect engine mode because of a mistake the German had made on the formation lap.
3 years on, the Lewis Hamilton-Nico Rosberg total wipeout Mercedes crash at the #SpanishGP never gets any less dramatic, does it?
Watch the 2019 race live only on Sky F1 this weekend: https://t.co/GZsL7bbnB2#F1 #SkyF1 pic.twitter.com/L0JLaKunPR
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 9, 2019
That implied he was slower than Hamilton emerging from turn 3, and Hamilton moved close by Rosberg to overtake him for the lead. However, the two drivers ended up colliding, as both Mercedes cars ended in the gravel and could not finish the race. This infamous collision started a rift between the two drivers.
F1 Spanish GP: TOP 5 MOMENTS – From Michael Schumacher’s FIRST win for Ferrari to Pastor Maldonado’s SHOCK victory – Check out top 5 moments from Spanish GP
