Carlos Sainz: “I didn’t have this much trouble against Max Verstappen”
Speaking on a podcast, the Spaniard said he couldn't understand Red Bull's decision not to offer him a seat, despite being one of the few drivers to stand up to the Dutchman.
Carlos Sainz stated that he did not struggle as much to face and stand up to Max Verstappen, even as the Dutchman continues to clearly dominate his teammates. The two men began their careers together in 2015 at Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team. While the four-time world champion scored significantly more points (49 points against 18 for the Spaniard), it was indeed the Ferrari driver who won their qualifying duel (10-9).
A notable performance when considering the difficulty Verstappen’s teammates have faced. Since Ricciardo’s departure from Red Bull in 2018, five drivers have had the responsibility of partnering with the Dutch driver, but none have truly been able to compete with him. Since the start of his career, Max Verstappen has scored 3,188.5 points compared to 1,795 for all his teammates. Yet, Sainz indicates he didn’t struggle as much against him. The Spaniard does acknowledge, however, that he was immediately surprised by the speed of the Red Bull driver.
A healthier relationship between Sainz and Verstappen
I think everyone has an incredibly hard time being Max’s teammate, said the Spaniard in the High Performance podcast relayed by Planet F1. I can only say that when I was his teammate, I didn’t have as much trouble. I was obviously incredibly surprised by his speed. He’s an exceptional driver. He will probably become one of the best of all time, if he’s not already.
The Spaniard has also denied Helmut Marko’s statements. The Austrian had described the relationship between the two drivers as toxic. « That’s what people have concluded or what they’re trying to explain or understand. The only thing I can say is that I get along really well with Max. It’s something people don’t see from the outside. We had a rivalry during our first year in Formula 1 at Toro Rosso, but it was a relatively healthy rivalry between him and me, in the way we approached racing. »
Being Verstappen’s Teammate: Constant Pressure According to Sainz
Comments that resonate today as Red Bull did not give him his chance. A decision that the son of the double world rally champion still struggles to understand. « Today, we get along very well. So, if that’s the reason, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t want me alongside Max, because I think we would form a very strong duo in Formula 1. »
The former McLaren driver, however, stated that his first year in F1 alongside Max Verstappen was probably the most intense he ever experienced. Both men were under a lot of pressure as a spot at Red Bull might have been available, and they approached each session as if their place in F1 was threatened. « I remember so many things from that year, everything was very intense. Max was 16 or 17 at the time, and we already had the mindset necessary to handle that intensity. »
« But I especially remember the level of pressure, the attention to detail we had. Every session, every FP1, it was war! For me, FP1 was like a qualifying session. I wanted to beat him in every FP1, every FP2, every FP3 […] It was honestly exhausting. This level of pressure shapes you. But I wouldn’t change anything: I would do it all over again without hesitation. »
Now with Williams, the Spaniard is starting a new chapter in his career. While the team is not yet a “top team,” it has already made clear progress this season compared to 2024. With Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, the Grove team boasts an experienced and fast duo capable of bringing the team to the top, possibly as soon as 2026.
