GP winners: so who is the oldest of them all?

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At the stunning age of 18 years and 228 days, Max Verstappen entered the history books on Sunday, becoming the youngest ever winner of a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

In Spain, the Dutchman bettered Sebastian Vettel who was 21 years and 73 days old when he won the Italian Grand Prix with Toro Rosso in 2008. The German remains however the youngest F1 World Champion in history, a title achieved in 2010 when he was just 23 years and 134 days old.

Despite the precocity of the current generation of F1 drivers, young Max's sensational feat is likely to remain inscribed in gold letters in the books for a while, maybe even for decades, before it is surpassed.

But at the other end of the spectrum, the oldest driver ever to win a Grand Prix was Italian Luigi Fagioli, who won the 1951 French Grand Prix for Alfa Romeo when he was 53 years old, although on this occasion he shared his car, as the regulations allowed back then, with team mate and future legend Juan Manuel Fangio.

Very young drivers, let alone teenagers like Max Verstappen, were a very rare breed in pre-war motor racing and in the early fifties, as the sport required undeniable physical and psychological maturity.

Affectionately nicknamed 'the old Abruzzi robber', Fagioli was often overlooked compared to his famous rivals back in the 1930s, namely Tazio Nuvolari, Achille Varzi, Alberto Ascari or Gigi Villoresi.

A Mercedes-Benz works driver from 1934 to 1936, Fagioli migrated to Auto Union, and then to Alfa Romeo after the Second World War, where he ranked among the Three Great 'F's': Fangio, Farina and Fagioli, who fought out the 1951 Formula 1 season among themselves.

The year after achieving his single Grand Prix victory, Fagioli signed to drive for Lancia in sportscars, but crashed in a supporting race in Monaco. Three weeks later he died of complications from his injuries.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.