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Formula 1 Spanish GP

Verstappen "cannot believe" maiden F1 win

Max Verstappen says he "cannot believe" having won his first Formula 1 race after taking a sensational victory in the Spanish Grand Prix.

Pablo Elizalde

Pablo Elizalde

Edited: May 15, 2016, 4:54 PM

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Race winner Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium

1st place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB12

1st  place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing and 3rd place Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari SF16-H

1st place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

The podium, Ferrari, second; Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, race winner; Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, third

The 18-year-old - the youngest driver to compete in Formula 1, the youngest to score points, and now the youngest to win a race - beat Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel to give Red Bull its first victory since the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was moved to Red Bull for the Spanish Grand Prix after having driven for Toro Rosso since he had made his grand prix debut last year.

The Dutchman needed only 24 starts to secure his maiden win.

"It feels amazing. I cannot believe it," said Verstappen. "It was a great race. I have to say thanks to the team for making such a great car.

"To win straight away in the first race is an amazing feeling.

He also paid tribute to the support from his father, former Formula 1 driver Jos: "At the end, from a very young age my dad helped me a lot and to achieve this is amazing."

Verstappen had to resist the pressure from Raikkonen, who spent the final part of the race stuck behind the Red Bull's rear wing.

The winner admitted the final laps had been very intense.

"This race felt like an endurance race to me, especially the last 10 laps. I couldn't believe I was leading the race.

"Today everything went well, I could hold onto the tyres, we did the best strategy possible."

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Previous article Spanish GP: Verstappen takes shock win as Mercedes duo collide

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