Grand Prix debuatant Verstappen off to flying start
Max Verstappen took advantage of a jaw-dropping first-lap collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to become Formula One’s youngest-ever winner of an incredible Spanish Grand Prix.
Eighteen-year-old Verstappen showed maturity beyond his tender years on his Red Bull debut to fend off the challenge from Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, who at 36 is twice as old as the Dutchman.
The tone was set for a race that will live long in the memory after pole-sitter Hamilton lost control of his car and crashed into Rosberg at turn three, taking both Mercedes drivers out of the grand prix in one swoop.
Niki Lauda, Mercedes’ non-executive chairman, instantly apportioned blame to Hamilton describing the world champion’s actions as “too aggressive”.
Hamilton and Rosberg, yet to comment on the incident, will now report to the stewards with the opening-lap incident under investigation.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel crossed the line in third to complete the podium. Daniel Ricciardo, who led the opening phase of the race, was forced to pit on the penultimate lap with a puncture.
