Dutch teenager Max Verstappen made Formula One history as the youngest race winner yesterday in a sensational Spanish Grand Prix that saw dominant Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collide and crash out on the opening lap.
Verstappen, only 18 and making his debut for the former world champions after being promoted from junior team Toro Rosso a week earlier, beat Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen – at 36 twice his age – by 0.616 seconds.
Verstappen was also the youngest driver to stand on the podium and the first Dutch race winner since the championship started in 1950. His proud father Jos declared it the best day of his life. “This is really something unbelievably special,” he told reporters while others acclaimed an exceptional talent.
Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel, the previous youngest race winner thanks to his astonishing 2008 Italian Grand Prix victory at the age of 21, was third for Ferrari. Rosberg had his lead trimmed to 39 points, with Raikkonen moving up to second ahead of Hamilton.
Rosberg’s dream of an eighth successive win, and fifth of the season, had disappeared in the gravel on the opening lap as he and reigning champion Hamilton crashed out while battling for the lead.
Hamilton had started on pole position, with Rosberg alongside, but their race imploded after three corners. The German passed Hamilton around the outside of turn one and the Briton was then squeezed onto the grass as he tried to regain the lead. His car skewed sideways and smashed into Rosberg’s, with both drivers ending up in the gravel and the safety car deployed.
“It is stupid, we could have won this race,” Mercedes’ non-executive chairman Niki Lauda said. “Lewis is too aggressive. I need to talk to them and hear their explanation and then we will see what happens.” — Reuters
Crash ends hopes of Hamilton, Rosberg
Verstappen, only 18 and making his debut for the former world champions after being promoted from junior team Toro Rosso a week earlier, beat Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen – at 36 twice his age – by 0.616 seconds.
Verstappen was also the youngest driver to stand on the podium and the first Dutch race winner since the championship started in 1950. His proud father Jos declared it the best day of his life. “This is really something unbelievably special,” he told reporters while others acclaimed an exceptional talent.
Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel, the previous youngest race winner thanks to his astonishing 2008 Italian Grand Prix victory at the age of 21, was third for Ferrari. Rosberg had his lead trimmed to 39 points, with Raikkonen moving up to second ahead of Hamilton.
Rosberg’s dream of an eighth successive win, and fifth of the season, had disappeared in the gravel on the opening lap as he and reigning champion Hamilton crashed out while battling for the lead.
Hamilton had started on pole position, with Rosberg alongside, but their race imploded after three corners. The German passed Hamilton around the outside of turn one and the Briton was then squeezed onto the grass as he tried to regain the lead. His car skewed sideways and smashed into Rosberg’s, with both drivers ending up in the gravel and the safety car deployed.
“It is stupid, we could have won this race,” Mercedes’ non-executive chairman Niki Lauda said. “Lewis is too aggressive. I need to talk to them and hear their explanation and then we will see what happens.” — Reuters
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