Stats: The Spanish GP in numbers

Circuit de Catalunya hosts the annual Spanish Grand Prix of 2013 and here is a compilation of some of the fascinating statistics leading up to the race.

Over the years, the Spanish Grand Prix took place at various venues around Spain, notably Jarama, Montjuïc, Jerez and Catalunya. Catalunya is the home for F1 since 1991.

• Most wins: Michael Schumacher (6)

• Most consecutive wins: Michael Schumacher (2001-2004)

• Most races won by constructor: Ferrari (11)

• Most poles: Michael Schumacher (6)

• Fastest Lap: 1:15.641 Giancarlo Fisichella 2005 (Catalunya)

• Schumacher’s first win for Ferrari came at this track in 1996

• Since 1997, the driver on pole has gone on to win the race at Catalunya with the exception being Mark Webber. Vettel snatched the victory from his team-mate in 2011.

• Only driver on the grid who has secured victories more than once at Catalunya was Kimi Raikkonen (2005 & 2008).

• Among the five world champions, Lewis Hamilton is the only driver never to have tasted success in Spain.

• Since 1981, Mark Webber and Felipe Massa were the only two non-world champions stood on the top step of the podium.

• Two Spanish drivers have won the Spanish Grand Prix: Carlos de Salamanca in 1923 and Alonso in 2006.

• Last victory for the immortal Gilles Villeneuve came during the 1981 Spanish GP in Jarama and also one of his finest as he fended off four cars with his incompetent Ferrari.

• Only victory for Jochen Mass in his career was witnessed in Spain and Lella Lombardi became the first and only woman to score point in that tragic race of 1975.

• In 1986, at the Spanish GP (Jerez), Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell finished side by side, just 0.014 sec separating them – one of the closest finishes ever recorded in F1.

• Last year, Maldonado recorded the first ever victory for a Venezuelan in F1 while ending Williams’ victory drought since 2004 Brazilian GP.

Let me rewind the past two races at Barcelona for you.

2011 Spanish GP:

In 2011, the race turned out to be a true spectacle after Vettel’s dominating victories in the opening races. Alonso’s move at the start was obviously the start of the season – from fourth to first in a blitz. Though he maintained the lead, his struggle with the Pirelli rubber caught him out big time. After the first round of stops, Vettel took the lead.

He went back down the order further after getting passed by Hamilton, Button and Webber. Hamilton’s bold strategy let him to challenge for the lead with Vettel. He was so quick but Vettel’s RB7 was even quicker despite much tyre wear. Alonso could only manage fifth behind Webber who came back from 18th on the grid. Jenson had a successful race to finish behind Vettel and Hamilton. Sergio Perez secured his first point here in his rookie season with Sauber.

2012 Spanish GP:

The intensive and unpredictable season saw Hamilton taking pole for McLaren. Nonetheless, he was stripped off it later due to fuel infringement issues. Pastor Maldonado was promoted to pole and won from there after regaining the lead from Alonso in the early parts of the race.

Maldonado managed his tyres pretty well to dismiss the threat from the Spaniard who finished second ahead of Raikkonen’s Lotus ahead of Grosjean. Hamilton finished eighth after starting from the back of the grid. After the race, Michael Schumacher received a five-place grid penalty for Monaco for crashing into the back of Bruno Senna.