Roberto Merhi

Roberto Merhi made it to Formula 1 with Manor Marussia in 2015, becoming the last Spaniard (before Carlos Sainz's full breakthrough) to race in Formula 1, though his best finish of 12th was 50% slower than the median points-scoring position that year. Although the Manor car was firmly at the back of the grid, Merhi competed professionally and gained important experience, outperforming the #8 Luis Perez-Sala's F1 stint by notching a higher finish in his debut season. Previously, he had a strong junior career in GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5, where his speed was evident, achieving 2 podium finishes per season compared to the average of 1.5, and his F1 appearances demonstrated the depth of Spanish talent in the sport.