Date: 1st June 2025
The Spanish Grand Prix is one of the oldest motor racing events in the world, with its origins dating back to 1913. Over the decades, it has evolved into a premier Formula One race, held at various locations across Spain before finding its permanent home at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 1991. This circuit quickly became a fan and driver favourite due to its technical layout and excellent facilities. It also serves as a winter testing ground as an important winter testing venue for the Formula One teams and drivers who use the track to assess upgrades made over the European winter.
Located in Montmeló, some 20km north-east of Barcelona, the Circuit has witnessed countless iconic moments, including Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell’s dramatic duel in 1991 and Fernando Alonso’s unforgettable win in 2013 in front of 140,000 home fans. The Circuit also witnessed Max Verstappen’s sensational maiden victory for Red Bull in 2016.
History of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix
Motor racing first came to Spain in 1913 with the San Sebastián Grand Prix, held on public roads. It wasn’t until the 1920s that a purpose built race track was constructed, with the Sitges-Terramar serving as the venue for the very first Spanish F1 Grand Prix in 1923. The race continued sporadically until the 1950s, when it joined the Formula One world championship calendar in 1951.
The first Formula One Spanish Grand Prix was held at Pedralbes in Barcelona. The race was held there for two years before moving to Jarama and Montjuic. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Spanish F1 Grand Prix had no fixed home and was held at a variety of circuits.
Its time as a world championship event ended in 1981 after safety concerns with the Montjuic circuit. It would be another decade until Formula One returned to Spain, with the all new Circuit de Catalunya hosting the first race of F1’s Spanish revival in 1991.
Built as the permanent home of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix, Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya has hosted every edition of the race since 1991. The circuit has seen many memorable moments since Nigel Mansell’s inaugural victory in 1991 which have included six wins each for Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.
Recent Spanish Grand Prix Winners
Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are the two most successful drivers at the Spanish F1 Grand Prix with 6 wins apiece. Hamilton’s Mercedes team had dominated the event in recent years, but with Red Bull’s resurgence Max Verstappen broke that run with three consecutive victories.
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2021 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2020 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2018 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2017 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2016 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2015 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes |
| 2014 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is one of the most technically challenging circuits used in Formula One. Built in 1991, it features fast corners, heavy braking zones and changes of elevation that test the very best drivers and cars. At 4.655km in length, Barcelona is classed as a medium-long circuit. It is made up of 16 corners, the majority of which are medium to high speed.
The first sector of the lap is the fastest, with a series of flowing corners that see the cars reach close to 200mph. The most famous corner here is turn 3, a long radius right hander that requires total commitment.
The second sector is tighter and more technical. The flowing rhythm of sector one is interrupted by a chicane and some 90 degree corners, including the tight left-right complex halfway through the lap. Traction is key through here.
The final sector sees the track wind back on itself in a long, never-ending series of corners. It all leads up to the heavy braking zone for the final chicane, one of the main overtaking points on the circuit.
With its challenging combination of corner types, Barcelona provides the all round test for the F1 cars. Success here requires strong performance in traction, braking and aerodynamic efficiency through the sweeping high speed corners.
Circuit de Catalunya Map
Fan Guide to the Spanish Grand Prix
Getting to the Circuit from Barcelona
By Air:
For fans flying in on the day of the race you can travel from Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) to to Barcelona Sants by train then transfer to a train heading to Montmeló. The total journey time is about 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or private transfer directly to the circuit in approximately 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.
By Train from Barcelona:
The Circuit de Catalunya is 20km north of Barcelona. The best way of getting there by public transport from Barcelona is to take a local train (cercanias) from any of the following three stations:
- Sants
- Passeig de Gràcia
- El Clot.
The train will be going to Macanet-Massanes but you must get off at Montmeló. Montmeló is on the green number 2 line, 5 stops after El Clot.
There are trains every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 40 minutes. A transfer will be available from the Montmeló train station to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the walk is about 30 minutes.
By Car:
The drive from Barcelona to the circuit takes around 30-40 minutes via the AP-7 motorway. Be aware that traffic can be heavy on race days, so plan to arrive early. On-site parking is available but must be booked in advance.
Getting to the Circuit from Girona
Girona–Costa Brava Airport lies 70km from Montmeló offering racegoers the opportunity to stay in the city of Girona rather than in Barcelona city.
- By Train: Race fans staying in Girona should take a RENFE train on line 2 heading for Barcelona and get off at Montmeló. The journey takes about one hour.
- By Car: Driving from Girona to the circuit takes around an hour via the AP-7 motorway.
- By Taxi or Private Transport: Private hire cars or taxis from Girona are another option although they will be considerable more expensive than train transport.
Getting to the Circuit from the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is a fantastic choice for combining the Spanish Grand Prix with a beach holiday with resorts such as Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar and Blanes proving popular with fans.
- By Train: Public transport connections from the Costa Brava to Montmeló are less direct than from Barcelona or Girona. Typically, you’ll need to take a local bus or train to a larger hub like Girona or Barcelona before continuing to Montmeló Station.
- By Car: Driving is the easiest way to reach the circuit from the Costa Brava. The journey takes about 1-1.5 hours, depending on your location. Parking at the circuit should be reserved in advance.
- By Organised Tours: Some tour operators offer race-day shuttles from the Costa Brava, catering specifically to F1 fans.
Spanish F1 Grand Prix Tickets
Tickets for the Spanish Grand Prix are available directly from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya website. Grandstand seating, general admission and VIP packages are available.
Grandstand tickets offer reserved seating at various points around the track, with the higher rows giving you views into more sections of the circuit. General admission gets you access to the open areas around the track, allowing you to find your own spot. VIP packages give amenities like pit lane access for the ultimate Spanish Grand Prix experience.
When planning your trip, it’s advisable to book tickets well in advance to get the best selection. Prices are at their lowest in the initial sales period before increasing as the race approaches.
Buy the Weekend Pass: You can order Spanish Grand Prix tickets for the Sunday of the race but the price of a three day pass is more or less the same price. So if you’re there for the weekend you should buy the weekend pass which gives you access to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for all the qualifiers as well as access to the pits on the Thursday before the race.
Which Tickets to Choose at the Spanish F1 Grand Prix
Best Viewing Grandstands
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has 14 grandstands of which only three are covered. Here are some things to consider when choosing your tickets for the Spanish Grand Prix:
- Grandstand F – Located on the start/finish straight, you’ll see the grid, start, pit stops, and finish of the race here. You can also see cars through turns 1 and 2.
- Grandstand H – At the top of the raised T9 grandstand, you get great views downhill through turns 8-10 and towards the stadium section. Overtaking happens directly in front.
- Grandstand M – Situated at the heavy braking zone for turn 1, you’ll be able to witness cars braking from over 200mph down to 60mph as they jostle for position.
- Grandstand N – Provides great views of the tricky chicane at turns 13 and 14 as drivers battle hard on the last lap.
- General Admission at Turn 3 – A great spot to feel the speed as cars take the curved turn 3 at close to 200mph. You can often see daredevil overtakes here too.
- General Admission at Turn 5 – Sit on the grassy hillside overlooking turn 5 for views back across the track to see multiple corners in action.
For the best views of overtaking, grandstands at turns 1 and 10 are ideal. For speed and technical corners, general admission at turns 3 and 5 is recommended. And for the overall experience, the start/finish grandstand allows you to see a bit of everything.
Grandstand Ticket Pricing
The most expensive seats are in stand D which is in front of the pits offering great views of wheel changes and fast refuelling as well as the starting grid, the finish and the podium ceremony. It also offers an excellent view of the last turn coming into the main straight which is one of the fastest and most difficult on the circuit.
Grandstands E and F are the next priciest as they are at the end of the main straight where cars go into the Elf turn. This is one of the few parts of the track where drivers might be able to overtake their rivals.
The cheapest tickets are in a section called the ‘Pelouse’ which is an open area with grass banks where you can move around freely before and during the race. Large screens placed strategically around the circuit allow you to follow the race. There is no designated seating in this area.