Carlos Sainz questions Red Bull with bold Max Verstappen 'tough time' claim

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."