Column: The best and at the same time most awful Grand Prix ever

Max Verstappen has followed a special career path. Where many drivers spent a number of years in various lower disciplines prior to their Formula 1 adventure, the then very young Dutchman shot through the layers at a rapid pace. He was offered a place at Toro Rosso and a year later he was able to join Red Bull Racing. That was the weekend of the Spanish Grand Prix, which was both the best and most terrible Grand Prix ever.

Criticism

Red Bull Racing got a lot of criticism on the move to get Verstappen to the top team so soon. The young Dutchman wouldn't have enough experience, it would 'back firing', Red Bull took too big a risk and so on. The criticism didn't lie and came from all angles. Helmut Marko stayed behind his decision and the eager Verstappen, who didn't let such an opportunity slip away. The criticism was certainly justified from a rational point of view, but based on the unknown. After all, this was an exceptional move and then you never know in advance what exactly will happen.

All the critics were silenced in a delightful way, because Verstappen did the impossible. In his first race for Red Bull Racing he managed to steer his car to the highest step of the podium. With a little help from Rosberg and Hamilton, who dropped out early in the race after a clash on the track. Had that not happened, Verstappen would probably not have been on the podium. Nevertheless, the victory was wonderful for the young Dutchman, who became more motivated than ever. Helmut Marko was also proved right and the Netherlands was upside down.

Terrible race

Now we all look back on this race as a historic moment in Formula 1. The young Dutchman did just that and that made him - even then - the most successful Dutch driver ever. That victory was so incredibly satisfying, but the road to it was hell. Now I can't speak for others, but it seems to me that almost everyone who watched this race was sitting in front of the television with a high degree of nerve. The dream of every Dutch Formula 1 enthusiast was now really within reach and what then raises the nerves is every conceivable scenario of doom.

That the Dutchman was ever going to win, that was obvious. That he would get into a position as soon as possible, no one would have thought that possible. For laps and laps the Dutchman drove at the head and with a panting Kimi Raikkonen in his neck it was always a question of: 'when will he be overtaken? A young Verstappen under such pressure with a very experienced driver right behind him, that's a situation where it would be understandable if you succumbed to it. Nobody from such a young age with such little experience would be able to cope with that pressure without making mistakes. Moreover, Verstappen had literally just boarded a new car - which he didn't know - and to send it to the finish under that pressure... that couldn't go well for long.

The result was a race in which every lap took an eternity and in which I personally assumed that something would go wrong, that had to be the case. I'm definitely not pessimistic, but this unthinkable scenario was a miracle that it came about. To end it with the best result imaginable, that well... no, that just can't be. Remember, he was only eighteen years old. But what unfolded on the track was a Verstappen that constantly managed to keep Raikkonen behind him. Round after round the Finn didn't succeed and as the end came closer, the awareness dropped: 'He can really go and win'.

The nerves increased per round and going to the toilet was absolutely not in it. My body had an unreal tension that only occurs when the nerves reach an absolute top at a certain moment. It's an incredibly annoying feeling which you can't shake off until it's done. Relaxed watching a race hasn't been there for a long time, but missing something? Absolutely not! Every time the doomsday scenarios flew through my head. Calm down Max, you've got it. Oeh, look out now. Don't let it drive you crazy and so forth. At the root of this is a grant factor and, of course, a chauvinistic perception from me when it comes to Dutch athletes.

Finally that finish flag

The laps lasted and lasted, but one day that torture of the nerves came to an end and that was of course the moment when Verstappen crossed the finish line. Olav Mol (Dutch commentator) who was barely controlling his emotions. A team that was amazed at what the newcomer was doing. Critics who had to scratch behind their ears and the memorable gesture of Niki Lauda... The late Austrian champion took his hat off to Jos Verstappen as a sign of admiration and respect. Something Lauda hardly ever did. Thát was the impact of the result of Max Verstappen.

How was my nerves? The discharge was great, the tension turned into euphoria and my body got the chance to function normally again. The moment of realization slowly subsided and the rest of the day there was a smile on my face and on the faces of many others. That awful race was one of my worst experiences ever with a Formula 1 race, but I would like to experience it again. That horrible hell suddenly became the best race ever. The unreal had happened and that made up for everything. We had a Dutch Grand Prix winner at the end.

Now Max Verstappen has fought exciting battles over the years and in that sense he has won more beautiful victories, but this one is special. It was impossible and he did it. It also did a lot with me as a lover and follower of the sport. That excruciating feeling that lasted for over an hour was terrible, but what came back before... one of the best races ever. Not so much in terms of racing itself, but especially in terms of experience. Another very pleasant realization that only later really descended: he was only 18 years old. The young man Verstappen just came to take a look and if this was a benchmark for his ability ... then Formula 1 would be able to enjoy this young man for another 20 years or so.

Golden times for the sport. Something that is also a fact now, after all, the sport is more popular than ever. A Grand Prix in the Netherlands, for example, would never be there, but see where we are now. It is the coronavirus that throws a spanner in the works, but Formula 1 is on its way to the Netherlands. How much longer we have to wait is not clear, but that oh so wanted Grand Prix is really going to happen. This is partly thanks to the performance of Verstappen in Spain 2016. A terrible race, but one that paid off wonderfully and which we can now look back on with pleasure and admiration.