Max Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix, becomes F1’s youngest ever race winner

At 18 years old, Max Verstappen on Sunday became the youngest ever to win a Formula One race with his drive to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. Juan Medina / Reuters / May 15, 2016

In his first race with Red Bull Racing, 18-year-old Max Verstappen became the youngest driver in Formula One history to win a race.

He had also been the youngest to lead a lap and to finish with a podium.

Behind him, the two Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel filled out the podium, while a puncture on the penultimate lap resigned his Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo to fourth.

Verstappen joined the Red Bull senior team just in the last week after they decided to demote Daniil Kvyat to Toro Rosso, the marque’s junior team with whom Verstappen had been racing.

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At 18 years and 228 days he became the youngest race winner, replacing four-time champion Sebastian Vettel who had also taken that record as a Red Bull driver at 21 years and 74 days in 2008.

“It feels amazing, I can’t believe it,” said Verstappen.

“It was a great race and it felt like an endurance race. To win straight away, in my first race, it’s an amazing feeling.

“From a very young age, my Dad has helped me a lot - it’s just amazing.”

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