Happy 10 years, Max Verstappen! Plus: Why the Canadian GP is important

May 15, 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Max Verstappen's first Formula 1 victory, with The Athletic's F1 newsletter Prime Tire commemorating the occasion through an oral history featuring quotes from Verstappen, his race engineer GianPiero Lambiase, and Dutch commentator Olav Mol. The piece highlights how little preparation time Verstappen had before his historic debut win. Formula 1 is set to head to the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal the following weekend, a track described as a key test for the current cars due to its distinctive layout featuring a hairpin, chicanes, and long straights.