Perhaps the most surprising crossover: four drivers who raced in or around Formula 1 also represented their countries at the Winter Olympics. Here are their stories.
Divina Galica — alpine skiing and speed skiing
Divina Galica is one of only five women ever to have raced across an F1 Grand Prix weekend and remains one of Britain’s most accomplished skiers. She made her Olympic debut at 19 in Innsbruck 1964, contesting the slalom, giant slalom and downhill. She returned for Grenoble 1968, finishing eighth in the giant slalom, and improved to seventh in that event at Sapporo 1972.
Her motorsport interest began through celebrity races and exhibition events, which led to an attempt in Formula 1. Driving a Surtees TS16 at the 1976 British Grand Prix, she failed to qualify; she made two further F1 qualifying attempts in 1978 without success. Remarkably, at age 47 she returned to Olympic competition at Albertville 1992 to take part in speed skiing, a demonstration event that records top speed. Galica has continued to be involved in motorsport since retiring from competitive skiing.
Alfonso de Portago — bobsleigh
Spanish aristocrat and racer Alfonso de Portago competed in five World Championship-level Grands Prix in 1956–57 and scored notable F1 results, including a shared second place in a Ferrari at the 1956 British Grand Prix and fifth at the 1957 Argentine Grand Prix. He was tragically killed months later in the Mille Miglia road race.
De Portago’s winter credentials include Spain’s first Olympic bobsleigh team at Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956. Paired with relatives in the two‑man event, he missed the podium by 0.16 seconds, finishing fourth, and was ninth in the four‑man competition.
Bob Said — bobsleigh
American Bob Said made a single Formula 1 start at the 1969 United States Grand Prix at Sebring, where he spun and retired on the opening lap. Outside that brief F1 outing he was primarily a bobsledder.
Said was part of the U.S. four‑man bobsleigh team at Grenoble 1968, finishing 10th, and returned to Sapporo 1972 where he placed 14th in the four‑man and 19th in the two‑man events.
Robin Widdows — bobsleigh
British driver Robin Widdows likewise made just one Formula 1 start, at the 1968 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, retiring midrace with ignition trouble. He had already established himself in winter sport: Widdows competed in the four‑man bobsleigh at Innsbruck 1964, finishing 13th, and improved to seventh at Grenoble 1968 — notably finishing ahead of Bob Said in that year’s standings.
Honourable mention — Simona de Silvestro
Linking the crossover to Milano Cortina 2026, former Sauber F1 test driver Simona de Silvestro is set to compete for Italy in bobsleigh. The Swiss‑Italian racer, who raced in IndyCar from 2010–2022 and has experience in Formula E, will contest monobob and two‑person events at the Cortina Sliding Center. At 37, de Silvestro is a modern example of the motor‑sport to winter‑sport crossover worth watching during the Games.”}