23/07/2025 12:00
Carlos Sainz has said he does not understand why Red Bull would not
want him to partner Max Verstappen in its F1 driver line-up. The
Milton Keynes-based squad opted against signing the Spaniard, who
raced for its junior team (then Toro Rosso) between 2015 and 2017,
with the first half of his tenure as team-mate to the four-time F1
drivers' champion. The 30-year-old, who has since raced for
Renault, McLaren, Ferrari, and now Williams, highlighted how he did
not experience the "tough time" others have endured alongside the
Dutchman during their rookie seasons together at the team now known
as Racing Bulls. After Ferrari made Sainz surplus to requirements
following its signing of Lewis Hamilton in early 2024, he became
the most-coveted free agent during last year's F1 silly season.
However, he was unable to convert that into a top driver, with both
Red Bull and Mercedes deciding to go in different directions. It
was widely speculated that the Verstappen camp was not comfortable
with the idea of Sainz joining the six-time constructors'
champions. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has previously said the
environment at Toro Rosso was "toxic" during their time there, and
has long been accepted that their relationship was strained - but
Sainz does not see it that way. The four-time grand prix winner
decided not to disclose if Verstappen had blocked a potential move,
or if concerns over tension between the pair was a critical factor
in Red Bull's call. "This is what people have concluded or what
people are trying to explain it or to understand it," Sainz told
The High Performance Podcast . "The only thing I can say is that I
genuinely get on well with Max. "This is something people don't see
from the outside. We had a rivalry in our first year in Formula 1
in Toro Rosso, but it was a relatively healthy rivalry in terms of
him and me, the way we used to go about racing. Now we get on
really well." The four-time grand prix winner decided not to
disclose if Verstappen had blocked a potential move, or if concerns
over tension between the pair was a critical factor in Red Bull's
call. "So, if that's the reason, I don't understand why they
wouldn't want me next to Max because I think we would actually be a
very strong pairing in Formula 1," he added. 'When I was Max's
team-mate, I didn't have this tough time' Red Bull ultimately chose
to re-sign Sergio Perez for 2025, before his poor performance led
to the team relieving him of his duties, with first Liam Lawson and
now Yuki Tsunoda stepping into its second seat. Although both have
struggled, evidently plagued by the difficulties that befell Pierre
Gasly, Alex Albon and eventually Perez before them. Sainz was keen
to highlight that he did not suffer the same fate as those drivers
whilst team-mate to Verstappen. "I think everyone's having a really
tough time being Max's team-mate," he said. "I can only say that
when I was Max's team-mate, I didn't have this tough time. In 2015,
the Dutchman outscored Sainz by 49 points to 18, but the latter did
have the edge over the former in qualifying (10-9). "I was
obviously incredibly surprised with how quick he was, with how he's
an insane driver," the Williams driver added. "I mean, he's
probably... he's going to be one of the best ever in history, if
he's not already one. But that first year together, since then, has
given me the confidence to know I can be against anyone. "I've been
team-mates with Charles [Leclerc], with Lando [Norris], with Nico
Hulkenberg. Very quick guys, and probably the best in the sport.
Now Alex [Albon], incredibly fast also, and just makes me want to
be up against the best, still. I know I can take it, and I know
that I've been successful in the past." The only other driver to
better match Verstappen as team-mates was Daniel Ricciardo, but by
the time the Australian left Red Bull at the end of 2018, the
balance of power between the two had shifted in the 65-time grand
prix winner's favour. Sainz also acknowledged that a lot has
changed him and Verstappen since the 27-year-old was promoted to
Red Bull for the fifth round of the 2016 F1 season. "I think we've
both moved on a lot as drivers," he said. "Probably Max has evolved
massively as a driver, but also I have, so it's impossible to know,
and we will probably never know. "That's probably not going to
happen anymore, but I can only tell you, if the opportunity would
have came, I probably would have taken it."
