{"id":17097,"date":"2025-07-23T04:33:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T04:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/17097\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T04:33:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T04:33:10","slug":"i-didnt-have-a-tough-time-alongside-verstappen-like-his-recent-team-mates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/17097\/","title":{"rendered":"I didn’t have a tough time alongside Verstappen like his recent team mates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carlos Sainz Jnr<\/a> says he doesn\u2019t understand why Red Bull never gave him the opportunity to drive for their top team in Formula 1.<\/p>\n

The Williams driver arrived in F1 10 years ago as part of Red Bull\u2019s junior talent programme. Red Bull placed him at their second team, then known as Toro Rosso, alongside Max Verstappen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However while Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull during his second season, Sainz never got the chance to join him there. Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko claimed the relationship between the pair was \u201ctoxic.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what people have concluded or what people are trying to explain it or to understand it,\u201d Sainz told High Performance<\/a>. \u201cThe only thing I can say is that I genuinely get on well with Max.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something people don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we get on really well. So, if that\u2019s the reason, I don\u2019t understand why they wouldn\u2019t want me next to Max because I think we would actually be a very strong pairing in Formula 1.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verstappen scored the majority of Toro Rosso\u2019s points but the two drivers were otherwise closely matched \u2013 more so than the multiple champion has been with most of his team mates since then<\/a>. Sainz said his time alongside Verstappen and other drivers has convinced him he is quick enough to compete with the best.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think everyone\u2019s having a really tough time being Max\u2019s team mate. I can only say that when I was Max\u2019s team mate, I didn\u2019t have this tough time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was obviously incredibly surprised with how quick he was, with how he\u2019s an insane driver. I mean, he\u2019s probably, he\u2019s going to be one of the best ever in history, if he\u2019s not already one. But that first year together since then has given me the confidence to know I can be against anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2019ve been successful in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Bull passed up an opportunity to rehire Sainz last year when they chose to replace Sergio Perez<\/a> alongside Verstappen. However they chose Liam Lawson instead \u2013 then dropped him after two races as they were dissatisfied with his performance.<\/p>\n

Mercedes also declined to pick Sainz up when he lost his Ferrari drive to Lewis Hamilton<\/a>. \u201cWe obviously talked a lot with Toto [Wolff, CEO] at the time and everyone,\u201d Sainz acknowledged. \u201cI was an option for sure, I was considered. How close, I can go and ask Toto, but I think he\u2019s very happy with Kimi [Antonelli].\u201d<\/p>\n

Sainz admitted he went through a low point last year when he discovered he was not going to have the chance to join one of the front-running teams for 2025.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI understood and I told myself, \u2018Carlos, that\u2019s not happening: take the decision where you go next and what\u2019s the shortest route to winning again, the route is going to be longer than what you thought.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause when I went, honestly, when Ferrari didn\u2019t renew me, I [thought] I can still be in a competitive car for \u201925. Then it took three or four months and then there was a point where I said I\u2019m not going to be in a race-winning car for \u201925.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was probably the second lowest moment. But then it completely changed my mindset and I managed to see it as a positive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams team principal James Vowles eventually persuaded him to join them for this season. \u201cWilliams and James were very good at selling that to me and giving me that environment to say, \u2018I\u2019m actually really looking forward to be in that environment\u2019 and feeling loved in the right way. That\u2019s what makes me smile now being in Williams.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Formula 1
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