WATCH: Max Verstappen's first ever Grand Prix victory, eight years of historic journey

On May 15, 2016, the Formula 1 world witnessed the dawn of a new era as Max Verstappen announced his arrival at the biggest stage. In his debut race for Red Bull Racing, he etched his name in the annals of motorsport history with an iconic victory at the Spanish Grand Prix. 

At the tender age of 18 years and 228 days, the Dutch prodigy seized victory and became the youngest GP winner in history. He broke the record previously held by the legendary Sebastian Vettel. Verstappen's ascent to the pinnacle of Formula 1 had been nothing short of meteoric. 

Even before his breakthrough victory, he had been setting records with his precocious talent. But it was that day in Barcelona that turned the tide in F1 history. The race itself was a spectacle of drama and intensity, marked by the early exit of the dominant Mercedes duo.

Watch the final moments of the race here:  

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝟭 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿



Watch this video to see Max Verstappen's his first F1 win, during his RB debut in 2016. Youngest driver ever



Max was at Toro Rosso & 7 days later he won the Spanish GP in a new car, new team. Watch GP, the marshals, the crowd 😍 pic.twitter.com/Rn0GaI59oR

— Marc | Formula 1 🏎 (@433_marc) March 10, 2024

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collided on the opening lap which paved the way for a titanic battle between Red Bull and Ferrari. Verstappen's teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel opted for a three-stop strategy, while Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen chose a more conservative two-stop approach.

Verstappen showcased amazing fighting skills!

As the laps unfolded, it became increasingly evident that Verstappen's strategy was the right one. Despite relentless pressure from the experienced Kimi Raikkonen, the young Dutchman displayed remarkable composure and maturity, defending his position with unwavering resolve. 

With each passing lap, Verstappen's legend grew, culminating in a breathtaking finish as he crossed the line a mere six-tenths of a second ahead of Raikkonen, clinching a historic victory that would reverberate across the racing world.

On that day Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Verstappen as a "superstar of the future" and today he surely is. Today, with 58 Grand Prix wins and three world championships to his name, Verstappen stands as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history. His iconic performance in the ongoing season is also setting the stage for his fourth World Championship title.