The 1975 Spanish GP at Montjuic Park was expected to be just like any other weekend in F1, instead it became one of the darkest days, a weekend filled with chaos, protest and tragedy that would forever close the gates to the circuit.
Montjuic Park, perched on a hillside overlooking the Catalan capital, had been part of F1 calendar since 1969.
Its layout, winding through public streets and framed by trees, monuments and stone walls, made it one of the most scenic urban tracks of the era.
But behind its charm hid a serious problem, safety. The Narrow roads offered little margin for error, with barely any run-off areas and barriers sitting only inches from the cars.
However, by the mid ’70s, F1 had already begun confroting the dangers of racing on such circuits, but Montjuic represented the old world, thrilling, yes, but perilous.
When teams arrived in April 1975, they were immediately alarmed, drivers, organized under the GPDA, carried out their usual inspection of the circuit and were horrified by what they found.
Many of the Armco barriers, intented to protect both drivers and spectators, were poorly fitted, Bolts were barely finger-tight, sections of metal were misalinged and gaps appaeared pannels large enough to catch a car on impact.
The first Brazilian World Champion in F1, Emerson Fittipaldi, was among the most vocal critics, he and other several drivers refused to participate in practice sessions, until the barriers were properly secured.
👉 Forgotten F1 Street Circuits: Part 2 – When Formula 1 Took Over the Streets
The weekend carried on
When race began, Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx started strong but Rolf Stommelen who was driving for Hill, quickly found himself in the lead, then on lap 26, it changed everything, his wing failed on the long straight, robbing him of downforce, he hit the barriers and flew into the crowds, in an instant chaos unfolded.
It was really sad day, four spectators and a fireman lost their lives, the driver left with severe injuries.
The race was red-flagged, and the results declared final, with half points awarded for the first time in F1 history, Lolla Lombardi finished sixth, earning her place in history as the first and to his day, only woman to score points in F1, just 0.5 due to the shortened race.
Organizers conducted investigations that confirmed what many already knew, the circuit was fundamentally unsafe for F1, its tight, high-speed layout combined with inadequate barriers and minimal protection for spectators made it impossible to justify its place on calendar, Montjuic Park was permanently removed from F1.
Today the streets of Montjuic still exist, winding quietly through the park where engine once roared, for those who know its history, it stands as both a beautiful memory and a haunting reminder, of the risks that once defined F1, and the price paid for progress.
👉 When Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver Faced the Flames – Jarama 1970
The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix remains one of the most tragic races ever held, not because of what happened in competition, but because it exposed the fragile line between spectacle and safety. Montjuïc’s legacy endures, not through trophies or triumphs, but as a turning point — the race that forced Formula 1 to look at itself and change.
