Top 5 Spanish Grand Prix races of all time

Round five of the 2019 season takes us to a destination where it all begins, even before F1 unravels a brand new season. The land of the pre-season testing, Barcelona in Spain becomes a key venue for fielding 20 of the world's fastest men, and hence, 10 teams for a 66-lap run.

First held in 1913, the Spanish Grand Prix has over the years turned into a hotbed of sorts for Mercedes. The Toto Wolff-led outfit have from the onset of the 2014 F1 season gone on to win 4 in 5 contests, with the only exception being in 2016, when a teenaged Red Bull driver emerged right on top amid as the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari played catch up.

We know who that is and we also know the keenness with which the talented Max Verstappen would like to claw back to the very top this year despite Mercedes standing on the verge of another 1-2, given the form they are in.

A glorious venue for the very top of motor-racing, the Barcelona track has over the years seen the triumph of the inimitable Michael Schumacher on more occasions than any other driver and perhaps this is something that Hamilton would like to better in the imminent future at the 4.65-km long track.

But that said let's take a look at the top 5 Spanish GP races of all time:

The 2008 Spanish Grand Prix- Kimi climbs to the top of the podium

European Formula One Grand Prix: where the Iceman turned on the heat

Kimi Raikkonen secured a fine fine in round four of the 2008 F1 season. In producing a controlled and measured drive amid an attendance of around 1,28,000- the 'Iceman' grabbed a perfect hat-trick, including a pole, the fastest-lap of the race, and the race win in the end.

Leading the race for the better part of the race, the then-Ferrari driver got off to a clean start as he was pursued by Alonso, second in his Renault and Massa, third in the other Ferrari.

What was great from Kimi's end was his ability to steer his Ferrari clear of his teammate, as Massa had already passed Alonso within minutes of the start.

A contest that was checkered by the safety car, deployed several times, would see Ferrari gather a fine 1-2, in the end, there being no dearth of drama as the McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen would crash seriously, the Finn eventually escaping with only a minor concussion.

But Raikkonen, the race-leader had enough pace on him to ever fall into the hands of his Brazilian teammate, the 'Iceman' proving a tough nut to crack for the Renaults and McLarens.

1991 Spanish GP: Mansell demonstrates flair and grit

The Professor, Senna all got schooled at Spain

A race that has been voted by millions as the best-ever Grand Prix at Spain, saw Mansell win a dramatic Grand Prix, winning ahead of Prost, Patresse, and Alesi at the completion of a 63-lap contest.

That the Spanish GP would unveil a titanic contest was ominous ever since Schumacher pulled a belter of a move on Mansell within minutes from the start. He would dive into the inside of the experienced Williams driver to put himself into a strong position, breaking into the top three.

Mansell, firmly in control despite the track being plagued by wet conditions, carried on.

Even as Berger got into the lead of the contest, Mansell, who began from second, never looked out of touch. The 1991 race would always be remembered for the epic Mansell vs Senna contest, a duel that would eventually see the Briton making a move on the master himself to give the epic contest its picture-perfect moment.

Making his entry into the final corner of the circuit to perfection, Mansell, who shot up on Senna from the slipstream, would make a decisive move in the mid-stage of the contest, going at 185-miles per hour.

Sparks would fly from both Williams and McLaren cars as Barcelona tugged into a truly unforgettable contest nailed eventually by Nigel Mansell who perhaps proved that winning a contest is ultimately also down to car-control and not just speed.

2006 Spanish GP: El Nino reigns at Spain

Fernando Alonso, the 'Spaniard' for a few, a 'Samurai' for a few others, but 'El Nino' for the better part of the grid drove a brilliant race back in 2006, thus marking a very famous triumph at his home track, back in 2006.

In those pre-turbo era days, where drivers still had more control of the car than the other way around, Alonso demonstrated class and consistency in winning what was the forty eighth Spanish Grand Prix.

But implicit in Alonso's win at Barcelona was the fact that he was able to dominate the proceedings from the word go. In clinching the pole position on Saturday, the Renault driver got off to a flier and never really looked out of touch or control to ever let the race play into the hands of his famous rival back then- Michael Schumacher of Ferrari.

Winning the race from pole, and extending his lead over his fiercest rival, arguably in a quicker car (something that's debated to this day), the double world-champion triumphed amid hundreds and thousands of home fans as his Renault teammate, Fisichella also claimed a fighting third, finishing behind Schumacher.

1996 Spanish GP: The "Red Baron" Michael Schumacher walks on water

Michael Schumacher won in 1996 a contest that to this day, over two decades hence is considered one of his finest-ever racing moments.

22 years back, the original "Regenmeister" unfurled an exhibition of unmatched supremacy as his Ferrari went on to create an ever-increasing gap over its pursuers amid hundreds of thousands of stunned eyes.

Winning a race of absolute uncertainty, the 1996 Spanish Grand Prix saw Michael himself confessing that, "I wouldn't have placed a bet of a penny on it," when enquired about his chances at winning.

That said, Schumacher made the most of a race hampered by poor weather, one that began normally on the grid, despite concerns looming large about a possible start behind the safety car. This was when just at the start, there seemed concern that Schumacher's car would nearly stall, with others like Damon Hill get off to a flier.

But only a genius like Michael Schumacher would've been able to pass not one but three cars right inside the opening lap, despite there being 'no clutch' as he would later reveal.

By lap five, he was all but running into the top three and it is here that he would make a flying pass on Gerhard Berger.

Where the others - most noticeably, Villeneuve, Hill, Berger floundered - Schumacher gained control and drove with a furious pace. It seemed, he used fairly wide racing lines, putting into good effect the ability of braking late as he hit fast-paced corners and the slow ones, making a race out of a contest fought amid tumultuous weather.

2016 Spanish GP: Mad Max claims his first-ever win, aged 19

Spanish F1 Grand Prix, Max beat both Ferraris

The 2016 Spanish Grand Prix would always be remembered for Max Verstappen's great feat.

In breaking Sebastian Vettel's record (when the German was with Red Bull), the unputdownable Dutchman became the youngest-ever race winner at 18 years and 228 days and left a mark in F1 driving then in what was only his second season back then.

Although it was Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton who grabbed the pole at Barcelona, it was to be Max Verstappen's contest, despite the Red Bull driver finding himself lapped by Vettel within seconds from the start.

In the run-up to turn 4, Verstappen would fight Vettel and regain the position he had lost earlier to the German.

A race that would demonstrate a shaky performance by both Mercedes cars would see Lewis, the pole-sitter and Rosberg collide and race-retire. In making a botched up attempt to gather his lost position, the British driver mounted an unsuccessful attempt on Rosberg, go off the track, spun and ultimately collide with his former teammate.

This brought in the safety car as the order of the race would read- Ricciardo, Verstappen, Sainz, Vettel, and Raikkonen as the top five.

On Lap 12, Ricciardo would box for fresh rubber as Verstappen would lead the race before pitting himself a lap later. 4 laps later, Vettel would find himself in pursuit of the two Red Bulls.

Max would continue undeterred before Lap 28 again gave him a slight edge as his teammate boxed for a second time, handing him the lead. He would lead for 6 laps and come into the pits on Lap 34. During the closing stages, especially from the onset of Lap 47, one was to see a fierce contest between the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen and the Red Bull of Verstappen.

Ricciardo would endure a puncture and had no option but to pit, only to emerge fourth on the grid.

It would be all advantage Max Verstappen, who did just enough to keep the Flying Finn at bay, crossing the finish line eventually with a stunning win, albeit assisted by the unforgettable retirements of the two Mercedes drivers.

Edited by Debjyoti Samanta