F1 GP Spain: at 18 years old Verstappen wins and enters F1 history

A breathtaking race, a historic victory and a driver who becomes a legend F1 at just 18 years old. Max Verstappen it is the youngest winner ever and his debut behind the wheel of Red Bull it couldn't have had a better ending to the day.
Podium also for the two Reds, with Kimi Raikkonen second ahead of his teammate Sebastian Vettel. Fourth place for Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo, in front of Williams di Bottas. Good performance also from local idol Carlos Sainz, who gave the Spanish fans sixth place, thus making Fernando Alonso's retirement a little less bitter. Perez, Massa, Button and Kvyat complete the top ten.
And the two of the Mercedes…? Other than the Silver Arrows, the climate in the pits Mercedes Today it's as black as it gets. A few meters from the start, the two Stuttgart standard-bearers were involved in an accident, eliminating each other, thus leaving the field free for the splendid protagonists of an unforgettable Sunday here in Barcelona.

News – Tires at the start: all with the soft compound, used for the riders in the first five rows and for Kvyat and Ericsson. New medium only for Haryanto Manor.
Starting with a bang in Barcelona, ​​it must be said, with Lewis Hamilton maintaining the lead at the start but immediately being overtaken by Rosberg at the first corner. The Brit isn't up for it and counterattacks immediately afterwards: Nico defends himself, Lewis ends up on the grass and spins violently, taking his teammate's car off the track in a crazy carambola. Safety car on track and race over for the two main contenders of the World Championship.

Behind the safety, Ricciardo took the lead of the race ahead of Verstappen, Sainz, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas, Perez, Button, Alonso and Grosjean. In the meantime, the accident between the two Mercedes drivers is being investigated and once in the paddock the two are immediately reunited in the motorhome together with the team leaders. On the fourth lap the safety car comes back and it's immediately a fight between Sainz, third, and the two Reds behind him.
A couple of laps and Vettel first, and therefore also Kimi, manages to pass the Spaniard's Toro Rosso.
On lap 12 Ricciardo is in the pits and switches to medium, Versatappen and Kimi follow the next lap and use the same compound. Vettel also stops on lap 16 and switches to medium tyres.
After the first stop: Ricciardo, Verstappen, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas, Sainz, Perez, Button, Alonso and Massa.

Retirement for Hulkenberg's Force India with the rear on fire on lap 22, while Gutierrez takes 12th place over Magnussen.
On lap 28 Ricciardo makes his second stop and mounts the used softs. Second stop so far only for the Australian and Massa. On lap 30 Vettel passes from the pits and mounts the used softs. When he returns he competes for the fastest lap with Ricciardo. Six laps later it's Kimi's turn who stops and switches to the new mediums, just like Verstappen shortly before. Vettel in the pits for his third stop: medium tire for him, who returns to fourth place ahead of Bottas. The Williams driver changes tires shortly afterwards and returns behind the Red; new medium compound for him too.

With 25 laps to go Ricciardo leads the standings ahead of Verstappen, Raikkonen, Vettel, Bottas, Massa, Sainz, Perez, Gutierrez and Kvyat.
The Australian stops on lap 44 and switches to the new mediums. With twenty laps to go Verstappen is leading the race, followed by Raikkonen, Vettel, Ricciardo, Bottas, Sainz, Perez, Gutierrez, Kvyat and Massa. Fernando Alonso parks his McLaren on the side of the track and reports the lack of power via radio. Massa and Button enter the top ten in ninth and tenth position respectively, while Kimi is closing in on Verstappen and further back there is a close fight between Vettel and Ricciardo. The Red Bull driver attempts the first lunge but Vettel resists and the two almost touch. The German from the Rossa complains on the radio in a very colorful way about Daniel's heavy entry. Ricciardo tries again a few laps later, but again he falls behind and the encounter with the lapped Gutierrez causes him to lose ground on Vettel.

Final lap: Max Verstappen flies towards his first victory in F1 ahead of the two Reds. Ricciardo's Red Bull gets a puncture, enters the pits for a quick change and still manages to finish in fourth place ahead of Bottas.

F1 GP Spain – Race times and results
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Renault 1h41m40.017s
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 0.616s
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 5.581s
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 43.950s
5 Valtteri Bottas Williams/Mercedes 45.271s
6 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso/Ferrari 1m01.395s
7 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 1m19.538s
8 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1m20.707s
9 Jenson Button McLaren/Honda Lap 1
10 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Ferrari 1 Lap
11 Esteban Gutierrez Haas/Ferrari 1 Lap
12 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1 Lap
13 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1 Lap
14 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1 Lap
15 Felipe Nasr Sauber/Ferrari 1 Lap
16 Pascal Wehrlein Manor/Mercedes Lap 1
17 Rio Haryanto Manor/Mercedes 1 Lap
– Romain Grosjean Haas/Ferrari Retirement
– Fernando Alonso McLaren/Honda Retirement
– Nico Hulkenberg Force India/Mercedes Retirement
– Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Accident
– Nico Rosberg Mercedes Accident