Verstappen, Vettel and Hamilton - Youngest F1 race winners

Malaysia  - Following Max Verstappen's Malaysian GP victory during his 20th birthday weekend, we reflect on some of youngest Formula 1 race winners of all time.

Champions elect

Our list features both current world championship contenders Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, as both drivers managed to win their first race before the age of 23.

The list also includes McLaren-Honda's Fernando Alonso, Ferrari's Kimi Raikonnen and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who is the only one of the 5 drivers yet to win a championship.

READ: Top 5 memorable moments of the #MalaysianGP

Here are 5 of F1's youngest race winners in descending order:

5. Kimi Räikkönen

2003 | 23-years-old

During Kimi's rookie season, the Iceman scored points in all of his first four races. This was just an early glimpse of his talent before he improved to the dynamic driver he would become today.

Signed by McLaren-Mercedes in 2002, Kimi managed to win the 2003 Malaysian GP at the age of 23 years old.


4. Lewis Hamilton

2007 | 22-years-old


As the yougest driver to secure an F1 contract, Hamilton managed to win his first race at the 2007 Canadian GP in his maiden F1 season.

It could have turned out even better for the Briton at the time as he finished as runner-up by one point in the hunt for the championship. 


3. Fernando Alonso

2003 | 22-years-old

2. Sebastian Vettel

2008 | 21-years-old

Vettels first GP race win was the 2008 Italian GP, where at the time he became the youngest driver to gain pole position in qualifying and the youngest race winner. He also earned Torro Rosso's first-ever victory. 


1. Max Verstappen

First Win: 2016 | 18-years-old

As a fearless and confident teenager, Verstappen blew everyone away at the 2016 Spanish GP.

At the same time, Mad Max became the youngest driver to lead a race and the youngest podium finisher in one at the time.