Throwback: Max Verstappen's Historic First Win as Mercedes Implode

Ten years ago today, the F1 record books were rewritten as Max Verstappen became the youngest grand prix winner at 18 years and 228 days, triumphing on his Red Bull debut after a sensational drive in Barcelona. But his fairytale victory was only possible because of the extraordinary self-destruction of the Mercedes teammates, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who collided on the opening lap.

Why it matters:

This race marked the beginning of Verstappen's rise to dominance and exposed the fragility of Mercedes' internal rivalry, which would eventually lead to Rosberg's retirement at the end of the season. It also highlighted how a single moment can alter the course of championship history.

The details:

• Verstappen crossed the line just 0.616 seconds ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, holding intense pressure for the final laps after an aggressive two-stop strategy.
• Hamilton and Rosberg made contact at Turn 4 on lap one, both spinning into the gravel and retiring on the spot. The stewards called it a racing incident.
• The root cause: Rosberg had incorrectly set his engine mode to formation lap settings, causing a 180bhp power loss as Hamilton pulled alongside. Rosberg defended late, squeezing Hamilton onto the grass.
• Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called the crash "brainless" and later revealed he threatened to sack both drivers. Niki Lauda said it was "totally unacceptable."
• Verstappen led for 35 laps, managing his tires superbly while Ferrari and teammate Daniel Ricciardo opted for three-stop strategies.

The big picture:

Verstappen's victory foreshadowed his future championships, while Mercedes' implosion became a cautionary tale about intra-team conflict. This race remains one of the most dramatic in modern F1 history, a turning point that launched a new era of talent and reminded everyone that dominance can crumble in an instant.