Daniel Ricciardo has lamented his pit-stop strategy which cost him victory on a day an opening-lap crash by Mercedes in the Spanish Grand Prix had gifted him the lead.

With Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg having ended each other's afternoon in a stunning manner, this shaped as Ricciardo's first win of the season – but his three-stop strategy proved to be the wrong call in the 66-lap race.

Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen had opted for a two-stop strategy and he, along with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, would usurp Ricciardo and claim a podium finish.

Ricciardo would have the freshest tyres as he pitted last but it did not matter. He would finish fourth, limping home with a flat tyre.

Verstappen, the 18-year-old Dutchman, would become the youngest winner in Formula One history.

"I don't think it's hard to see Max on the podium, it's hard for me not to be on the podium," Ricciardo said.

"It's frustrating. I think we just threw the win away today. Mercedes had their mistakes on lap one and the race was in our hands.

"I definitely don't want to sound like a bad sportsman. Max won today in his first race with the team. Whatever happened on track, he still crossed the line in first. It's a big day for him, so congratulations.

"Sure I'm bitter right now – not with Max, not at all, just bitter at the situation."

Ricciardo said his performance "just didn't make any sense".

"Seb had already jumped us. Then you're required to pass not only Seb but then pass three cars on track when we know we're down on speed and it's a hard track to pass on," he said.

"It just didn't make any sense. I thought, at the time, we did it because everyone else was going to do it.

"Normally, the guy in the lead gets the better strategy (but) it didn't work out today."

Ricciardo was also involved in a scuffle with Vettel when he struck the Ferrari driver on lap 59. Vettel was furious, roaring on his team radio: ""F***! If I don't avoid that he is going to go into my car! What are we doing here, racing or ping pong!"

Asked later about Vettel's comments, Ricciardo replied: "Apparently he said I was a bit aggressive on the radio" but added, with a laugh: "Typical".

Vettel, the four-time world champion, was more diplomatic post race, suggesting Ricciardo had not done anything wrong.

"In that instant I was on fire and complaining because if I didn't play according to his move, there would be a crash," Vettel said.

"Then again, it's racing. The one chance he had was when I had a bad exit and he has to go for it. I have raced him many times and it's good fun."

Verstappen's maiden win was the first in the sport by a Dutchman. Rosberg and Hamilton refused to blame each other for their stunning crash.

Ricciardo sits equal fourth (48 points) with Vettel in the overall standings, behind Rosberg (100), Raikkonen (61) and Hamilton (57).