From teenage superstar to F1 great: Ten years since Verstappen's Spanish GP breakthrough

At just 18 years and 228 days old, Verstappen became the youngest race winner in F1 history, a record that still stands today, with Kimi Antonelli the only other driver to win as a teenager. While many believed the Dutchman was destined for greatness, few could have predicted just how quickly he would deliver on that promise.

The circumstances leading up to the race were dramatic enough. Following the Russian Grand Prix, Red Bull elected to promote Verstappen from Toro Rosso to its senior team, swapping him with Daniil Kvyat. The move attracted huge attention, with many questioning whether Verstappen was ready for a front-running seat after only a little over a season in Formula 1. Any doubts were quickly laid to rest in Barcelona.

It was an impressive start for the Dutchman who qualified fourth in his first race for Red Bull, only behind Mercedes rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, as well as his teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

A Mercedes one-two was the predictable outcome pre-race, however the Spanish GP (now contested under the name Barcelona-Catalunya GP) burst into life when Hamilton and Rosberg collided while battling for the lead on the opening lap. The door was open for Verstappen to pull off a miraculous result, but he was still expected to lose out in the fight against Riccardo and the two Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel.

Ricciardo, who was leading the race in the opening stint, was switched from a two to a three-stop strategy in order to fight off Vettel, who Red Bull believed was their main threat from taking the top step. However, it became clear that the two-stop was the way to go, which led to Verstappen leading the Spanish GP from the second Ferrari of Raikkonen, setting up a tense final stint.

Despite relentless pressure from the experienced Finn, Verstappen remained calm beyond his years. Raikkonen caught up to Verstappen and managed to get inside the one-second window to activate the DRS system. Verstappen though delivered a flawless drive, managing his tyres expertly while keeping the Ferrari at bay. After 66 laps Verstappen crossed the line to secure a famous victory, and the sight of Verstappen on the top step of the podium is something fans have become accustomed to over recent years.

The Spanish Grand Prix victory proved to be the first chapter in a remarkable career. Verstappen established himself as one of the sport's elite drivers over the following seasons, earning a reputation for breathtaking overtakes, relentless speed and supreme racecraft.

His breakthrough world championship arrived in 2021 following an intense season-long battle with Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen claimed the title at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, ending Mercedes' run of dominance and ushering in a new era for Formula 1.

More success followed. Verstappen successfully defended his crown in 2022 before producing one of the most dominant campaigns the sport has ever seen in 2023. He won 19 of the season's 22 races and shattered numerous records as Red Bull established itself as Formula 1's benchmark team.

Another championship followed in 2024, taking Verstappen to four world titles and placing him among the most successful drivers in the history of the sport.