F1: Top 5 Spanish Drivers of all time

#4 Alfonso de Portago

Alfonso de Portago (left) was a driver whose career was cut tragically short in the 1950s.

Alfonso de Portago is one of only two Spanish drivers to ever stand on an F1 podium, which you'd think would place him higher than fourth on this list, but let me explain.

De Portago, the 11th Marquess of Portago, claimed second place at the 1956 British Grand Prix, but this was thanks to a shared drive with Peter Collins. Alfonso would also get a fourth place the following year in Argentina, but this too was as the result of a shared drive, this time with Jose Froilan Gonzalez.

Those were the Spaniard's only points finishes in Formula 1, which is impressive, but these weren't solely his achievement, thanks to the aid from two of the best ever Grand Prix drivers to not win championships.

However, these aren't the sole factors at play, Portago only competed in five races, thanks to his untimely and early death. After the 1957 Argentine Grand Prix, Portago was involved in a crash during the Mille Miglia road race and both he and his co-driver wouldn't survive.

He was only 27-years-old, a spring chicken by the age standards of the '50s. Had he lived, Portago could've achieved podiums on his own merit, but we'll never know.