Spain's F1 story is essentially Fernando Alonso's. The Asturian took back-to-back championships at Renault in 2005 and 2006, breaking Schumacher's Ferrari run, and has remained competitive into his forties — still on the grid in 2026 driving for Aston Martin. Carlos Sainz Sr.'s rallying son has carried the second flag well, with multiple race wins for Ferrari before his Williams move and then back to Audi-bound Sauber.
Beyond those two, Pedro de la Rosa, Jaime Alguersuari and Roberto Merhi all spent time on the grid. Alonso's 32 wins (and counting) and the country's sustained interest in F1 — driven by his career — have built a fan base that punches above the country's grid representation.
