Carlos Sainz estimates “that there would have been no problems” with Max Verstappen if Red Bull had decided to line him up alongside them in 2025.
Carlos Sainz's future has long been an enigma this season. After the pre-season blow when Ferrari announced the incredible signing of Lewis Hamilton for next year, Sainz was hoping to bounce back in another top team.
Mercedes and Red Bull were two credible options, with a seat left free by Hamilton on one side and the place of Sergio Pérez to be found on the other. Given the difficulties encountered by the Mexican, Carlos Sainz could have emerged as the strongest alternative for Red Bull.
Ultimately, neither avenue came to fruition. Some rumors have even reported a refusal from Red Bull linked to tensions known in the past with Max Verstappen. Indeed, the two men knew each other well at the start of their careers, since they began their F1 adventure together at Toro Rosso in 2015.
The two young drivers at the time, members of the Red Bull fold, were fighting for a potential place within the parent team, leading to inevitable internal tensions. Almost 10 years later, things have changed a lot, says Carlos Sainz.
Also read: Sainz doesn't understand why he wasn't chosen by Red Bull or Mercedes
Sainz : “If the decision depended solely on that, it would simply be a mistake”
“I think I would get along well with him”Sainz told Auto Motor und Sport. “We were 16 and 19 at the time [17 et 20 ans en réalité début 2015, ndlr]we have matured a lot. At Toro Rosso, they put you in a team and say: 'Fight among yourselves, then we'll see who's the best and who gets promoted to Red Bull.' This is what Toro Rosso is all about. We don’t drive together for the team classification, otherwise the behavior of both drivers would change completely.”
Carlos Sainz hopes that the choice made by Red Bull not to field him next season is not only due to his known relationship with Max Verstappen in the past.
“You can see it with Charles [Leclerc, chez Ferrari] and Lando [Norris, chez McLaren]my last two teammates,” continues Sainz. “There have never been any problems. So if my relationship with Max was the reason I didn't end up there, then I'd say there wouldn't have been any problems. If the decision depended solely on that, it would simply be wrong, but I have already told them that.”
Read also: Verstappen is ironic and hopes to miss the general presentation of the 2025 F1 in London
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