Fangio's victory at the 1951 Spanish Grand Prix secured his first Formula One World Drivers' Championship, while Alfa Romeo subsequently withdrew from the sport.
Key Facts
- Race date
- 28 October 1951
- Circuit
- Pedralbes Circuit
- Championship round
- 8th and final race of 1951 season
- Race winner
- Juan Manuel Fangio (Alfa Romeo)
- Fangio's points lead before race
- 2 points ahead of Ascari
- Ascari finishing position
- 4th
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Heading into the final race, Juan Manuel Fangio held a narrow two-point lead over Alberto Ascari in the championship standings. The race became defined by tyre strategy: Ferrari opted for 16-inch rear wheels while Alfa Romeo chose 18-inch wheels, a decision that would prove decisive as Ferrari's smaller tyres were prone to tread failure on the circuit.
Starting from a strong position, Ascari led the race ahead of González, but Ferrari's tyre problems began as early as lap 6. Piero Taruffi, Luigi Villoresi, Ascari, and González all suffered tread failures in quick succession, forcing the Ferrari cars into repeated pit stops for tyre changes. Fangio, free of such problems, drove consistently to win the race comfortably.
Fangio's victory, combined with Ascari finishing only fourth, gave Fangio the 1951 World Drivers' Championship title. Following the race, Alfa Romeo announced it would not compete in the 1952 Formula One season due to financial difficulties, marking a major shift in the competitive landscape of early Formula One.