Sainz regrets not being Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull: “We would be strong”

Carlos Sainz has expressed his bewilderment at Red Bull’s decision not to sign him as Max Verstappen’s teammate for the current season. Sainz, who knew he would be replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton, was in talks with Red Bull, which was considering options for Sergio Pérez’s seat. Finally, Liam Lawson was the one who took Pérez’s place, but only for two races, before being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. At that time, it was speculated that Red Bull was concerned about the possible tension between Sainz and Verstappen, recalling their rookie season in the company’s junior team in 2015.

Sainz commented that he maintains a good relationship with Verstappen, which, according to him, does not justify the decision not to consider him for the team.

“The only thing I can say is that I get along very well with Max. This is what people don’t see from the outside.”

Carlos Sainz

Sources close to the decision suggested that the main internal concern resided in the relationship between the drivers’ fathers, Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Sr.

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Finally, Williams hired the Spanish driver, who believes he could have performed better than Pérez, Lawson and Tsunoda alongside Verstappen. Sainz added that he has been a teammate of drivers like Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Nico Hülkenberg, and that he feels capable of competing with the best.

“I think everyone is having a very difficult time as Max’s teammates. I can only say that when I was Max’s teammate, I didn’t have this difficult time.”

Carlos Sainz

Sainz concluded by expressing his admiration for Verstappen, considering him one of the best drivers in history.