Unforgettable moments from the history of the Spanish Grand Prix

Barcelona has been a stage for some truly wild moments over 35 years of Formula 1. Beyond the legendary victories, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has given us memories that have absolutely nothing to do with lap times.

Take the heartbreak of 2001, for instance. Mika Hakkinen was cruising with a 42-second lead on the final lap, only for a hydraulic leak to kill his McLaren at Turn 3. Watching him hitch a ride back on David Coulthard’s sidepod remains one of the most surreal images in the sport. Then there was Pastor Maldonado’s stunning 2012 win for Williams—a result nobody saw coming—capped off by Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso hoisting him onto their shoulders in celebration.

It isn't all tragedy and triumph; sometimes, it’s just pure theatre. We’ve seen Lewis Hamilton meeting his own lookalike, Charles Leclerc forgetting where to park his Ferrari after taking pole in 2022, and Carlos Sainz being called 'Darren' by his own engineer. It is these moments of humanity that remind us why we are so obsessed with this sport.