Max Verstappen became the youngest driver in history to claim a Formula 1 race success in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
The teenager was the chief beneficiary after Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg sensationally crashed into one another and out of the race during the opening lap.
World champion Hamilton had started on pole position but was overtaken through turn one by current championship leader Rosberg.
As the Briton attempted to regain the initiative on turn three, he was squeezed out by the defending German and the duo collided, ending both their races in the process.
That left Red Bull pair Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo to fight for the race win with the Ferrari’s of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastien Vettel.
Red Bull got their pit-stop strategy spot on, with Verstappen opting for just two stops as he held off Raikkonen in second spot.
It was the young Finn’s 24th Grand Prix and his first for Red Bull after being promoted from their junior setup Toro Rosso in the aftermath of the Russian Grand Prix.
Verstappen became youngest race winner by more than two full years at 18 years and seven months old, eclipsing the mark set Vettel at 21 years and two months old when he won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix for Toro Rosso.
The youngster was revelling in his victory afterwards, admitting it was scarcely believable.
“It’s an incredible feeling. To win is just amazing,” said Verstappen.
Verstappen is 41.00 to win the F1 Drivers’ Championship this season. World champion Hamilton is now 2.50 with Rosberg at 1.67.
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