Verstappen recalls that first win in Spain ‘when I was 18’

MAX Verstappen returns to the scene of his stunning teenage maiden Formula One triumph at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend as a battle-hardened world champion in pursuit of his second title.

After his tumultuous title victory in Abu Dhabi last year, the 24-year-old Dutchman has become one of the world’s highest-paid sports stars and a leading figure in F1’s new generation of drivers.

But on Sunday, as always, he will shut out all distractions as he bids to complete his second hattrick of consecutive wins for Red Bull on a Montmelo circuit where 2021 title rival Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes has reigned supreme. Six years on from his debut victory with Red Bull in Spain, when he became the youngest driver to claim an F1 win, Verstappen is seeking to trim 2022 championship leader Charles Leclerc’s early-season advantage and to take the initiative in the title race.

“I have a lot of good memories at this track from my first win, when I was 18,” he recalled of the first of his 23 F1 wins.

“Hopefully, we can keep the momentum we have built up in the last few races and have a clean start to the weekend.

“We had an incredible week in Miami. I’ve had some time to rest with my family since then

and now I’m looking forward to driving again.”

Like Verstappen, Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez has also been home, but not for a rest.

He returned to Mexico, for the arrival of baby son Emilio – a reason, he said, to register a memorable personal result on Sunday.

After a faltering start to the season, when Red Bull were hit by reliability issues, the team has recovered and, following successive wins in Imola and Miami, the Dutchman has cut Leclerc’s lead to 19 points after five of this year’s 22 races.

He has only once before delivered three straight wins – at last year’s French, Austrian and Styrian Grands Prix, a run that gave him title-winning momentum.