Top 10 Spanish Formula 1 Drivers

Pedro de la Rosa raced in Formula 1 from 1999 to 2012 for Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren, Sauber and HRT, spending much of that span as a test and reserve driver rather than a race driver. His only podium came at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished second for McLaren. He later worked as a development driver for Ferrari and has stayed in the sport in testing and ambassadorial roles.

Alex Palou is an IndyCar champion rather than a Formula 1 driver. The Catalan racer came to the United States in 2020 after seasons in GP3 and Japan's Super Formula, and took his first IndyCar title with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021. He has never started a Grand Prix, though he tested for McLaren; his decision to stay at Ganassi instead of joining that team led to a contract dispute in the English High Court.

Adrián Campos raced in Formula 1 for Minardi in 1987 and 1988, scoring no points in an uncompetitive car. His lasting contribution came afterwards: he founded Campos Racing, which has competed in GP2, GP3 and Formula 2, and he backed the young Fernando Alonso early in his career.

Luis Perez-Sala drove for Minardi in Formula 1 across the 1988 and 1989 seasons. His single championship point came at the 1989 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where he finished sixth. He returned to the paddock in 2012 as team principal of HRT, the Spanish team's final season before it folded.

Emilio de Villota was one of Spain's early Formula 1 pioneers, competing with Williams and March in the early 1980s and representing a generation of Spanish drivers who raced before Fernando Alonso made the path famous. He was a respected figure in Spanish motorsport and the father of Maria de Villota, who herself became a test driver for Marussia in 2012 before a tragic testing accident ended her career. Emilio's family contributions to Spanish motorsport span several decades.

Roberto Merhi raced for Manor Marussia through most of the 2015 season, sharing the seat with Alexander Rossi in a car that was the slowest on the grid; his best finish was 12th. The stronger part of his record came before F1 - runner-up in the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 season and a European F3 Open title - and he later moved into endurance racing.

A Catalan driver whose career was in American open-wheel racing rather than Formula 1: he won the 1999 Indy Lights championship, took a Champ Car victory at Montreal in 2005, and made repeated starts at the Indianapolis 500.