Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
The 2026 Winter Olympics are about to start in Milan-Cortina as the sporting calendar continues to fill in the gaps before the beginning of the Formula 1 season.
There are only two pre-season tests taking place between now and the Australian Grand Prix, but in that time, hundreds of medals will be won at the latest edition of the Winter Olympics.
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Considering how different many winter sports are to Formula 1, it’s hard to believe that there is much of a crossover between the two.
However, in the history of the Winter Olympics, four participants have also taken part in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Although none of these drivers are household names, one has a special place in F1 history, while another was lucky enough to race in one of Enzo Ferrari’s cars.
Alfonso de Portago – Bobsleigh, Ferrari podium finisher
Alfonso de Portago was an eccentric Spanish aristocrat who had a bizarre sporting career.
He featured as the ‘gentleman rider’ at the Grand National and formed the Spanish bobsleigh team for the 1956 Winter Olympics in this year’s host venue, Cortina.
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De Portago’s bobsleigh team finished fourth, and that same year, he made his F1 debut in a customer Ferrari.
He finished second at the 1956 British Grand Prix before Juan Manuel Fangio, sharing the car with Peter Collins.
The 13th Count of la Mejorada was portrayed by Gabriel Leone in the 2023 film Ferrari, and he was unfortunately killed a year after his Olympics and F1 debut in an accident during one of Italy’s most famous races, the Mille Miglia.
Divina Galica – Alpine/speed skiing, three Grand Prix entries
British driver Divina Galica is one of just five women to ever compete in Formula 1.
Racing for Surtees in 1976 and Hesketh in 1978, she failed to qualify for any of the three Grand Prix she entered.
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However, she had a prominent racing career, coming second in a British Formula One race and taking part in two Shellsport International Series campaigns.
Before F1, Galica was an alpine skier, making her debut at Innsbruck 1964 and featuring at the next two Winter Olympics, before returning to take part in a speed skiing event in 1992, aged 47.
Photo by Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images
Bob Said – Bobsleigh, one-time Formula 1 driver
There’s a level of nominative determinism about the fact that Bob Said made his two appearances at the Winter Olympics in a bobsled.
He raced at Grenoble in 1968 and Sapporo four years later, although he never came close to winning a medal.
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His F1 career was even shorter, taking part in the first official United States Grand Prix in 1959 at Sebring.
It was won by New Zealander Bruce McLaren, with Said qualifying 13th in his Connaught before retiring on the opening lap following an accident.
Robin Widdows – Bobsleigh, one F1 entry for Cooper
While Said had made his one and only appearance in Formula 1 nine years before his Winter Olympics debut, 1968 was an exciting year in the career of Robin Widdows.
He raced against Said in the bobsleigh for Great Britain in 1968, but made his debut four years earlier at Innsbruck, failing to medal at either event.
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Widdows had a successful Formula Three and Formula Two career, and at the 1968 British Grand Prix, Cooper offered him an opportunity to take part at Brands Hatch.
He qualified 18th out of 20 drivers, a second behind fellow Cooper driver Vic Elford, before retiring after 34 laps with an ignition issue.
READ MORE: Winter Olympics 2026: Event and tournament schedule and where to watch
