F1 2016: Max Vertappen wins Spanish GP to create history

Max Verstappen has created history by becoming the youngest ever driver to win a Formula One grand prix with his Spanish Grand Prix win at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. At the age of 18, Verstappen has taken the crown of the youngest ever F1 GP winner from Sebastian Vettel by winning the 66 lap race.

The two Mercedes cars threw the whole race away on the very first lap as an over zealous Lewis Hamilton refused to retreat, and Nico Rosberg, who was recovering from a slow exit from the third corner closed the door on him.

Rosberg got the better start, and took the lead into Turn 1. But at Turn 4, Rosberg's move to the right to cover the inside line pushed the attacking F1 champion Hamilton off the track and on to the grass from where the Briton slid into Rosberg, ending the race for both drivers.

This left Daniel Riccardo in the lead ahead of young Red Bull team mate, Max Verstappen. Both Red Bull cars were leading the two Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen with the Torro Rosso of Carlos Sainz in between in third.

Once the Ferraris made their way around the Torro Rosso, the race ended up being one of the best races in a very long time in Formula One as the battle became a war between Red Bull and Ferrari.

Both teams decided to spit their strategies as Vettel and Ricciardo were on a three stop strategy, while Verstappen and Raikkonen decided to pull of an amazing drive with a two stop.

Ricciardo took his first stop on Lap 12, with Verstappen following suit. Ferrari responded with Vettel pitting on lap 15 but came out behind. At this point, Vertsappen was pulling away from Vettel and closing in on Ricciardo for the lead, who also had DRS advantage from a back marker.

By lap 29, Riccardo made his second stop changing to the softs, while Vettel got a fresh set of softs the following lap.

At this point, Red Bull decided to keep Verstappen out for a few more laps and put him on the two stop strategy. Ferrari decided the same for Raikkonen, as the 18-year old Dutchman lead his first lap of a grand prix with the Finn behind him.

On lap 35, Verstappen came into the pits for a set of mediums to try and go all the to the end with half the race still to go. Raikkonen did the same on lap 36 and came out behind Verstappen.

Ferrari decided to pull a tactical move on Ricciardo by pitting Vettel early on Lap 38 for a set of medium compound tyres which seemed too early. But when Red Bull delayed the stop for Ricciardo, pitted him of lap 43, Vettel was way ahead of the Australian driver. Ricciardo had to make up lot of ground just to catch up to Vettel’s Ferrari for third place.

The battle at the front had Raikkonen struggle to find the grip on the last sector where Verstappen consistently nailed it. This left Raikkonen to not be able to close in the gap enough to pull off a move on the Red Bull. Verstappen kept his nerves, nursed his tyres, while displaying immense amount of skill, to keep the Iceman at bay all the way to the chequered flag to win his first ever grand prix on his debut with Red Bull.

On lap 59, Riccardo managed to make his move on Vettel into turn 1 with the help of DRS. But lost the place to Vettel again as he had to run wide letting Vettel to remain ahead. The Australian driver tried numerous times to make his move, but just couldn’t get close enough to make another lasting move on the German.

Ricciardo’s fight with Vettel was over, when on the penultimate lap, his rear left tyre suffered a puncture. Nursing his car back to the pits, Ricciardo still managed to hold on to fourth place as the Williams of Valterri Bottas was significantly further back in fifth place.

2016 F1 SPANISH GRAND PRIX (15/05/2016)
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – 4.655km, 16 turns, 66 LAPS