Carlos Sainz feels that he hasn’t had as much direct competition time against Max Verstappen as his teammates have, compared to other drivers who shared the Red Bull garage. Both Sainz and Verstappen, products of Red Bull’s junior program, made their Formula 1 debuts in 2015 with Toro Rosso (now known as AlphaTauri), marking one of the most exciting rookie duos in recent memory.
During that season, Verstappen outscored Sainz 49 to 18, while Sainz faced several reliability setbacks. Despite this, Sainz managed to maintain an edge in qualifying, narrowly beating Verstappen 10 to 9 in one-lap pace. Verstappen was promoted to the main Red Bull team four races into 2016 and quickly established himself as a dominant force in F1, while Sainz continued progressing with moves to Renault in 2017.
In recent years, Verstappen’s teammates have found it difficult to match his level, partly because Red Bull has developed cars tailored to Verstappen’s driving style. Nevertheless, Sainz remains confident due to the fact he was able to challenge Verstappen—considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1’s history.
“Being Max’s teammate is extremely tough,” Sainz said on the High-Performance Podcast. “But when I was his teammate, I didn’t struggle as much. I was hugely surprised by how fast and incredible he was. He might be the best in history.”
Sainz added that the experience gave him the confidence to compete with any driver. Having raced alongside talents like Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Nico Hulkenberg, Sainz considers himself one of the fastest in the sport. “Now with Alex Albon, it’s the same—he’s quick, but I’m still pushing to be the best.”
Carlos Sainz Sr., a rally legend, recently expressed his desire for his son to join Red Bull, believing Sainz Jr. would have thrived on the challenge. Sainz Jr. was once seen as a possible candidate for Red Bull, especially after Ferrari’s move to sign Lewis Hamilton shook up the 2026 driver market.
However, Sainz chose to sign a long-term deal with Williams, while Red Bull replaced Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson and then swapped Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda early in the season. Sainz acknowledged that although he and Verstappen have both evolved significantly, the chance to team up again may never come. He emphasized that Williams has provided the right environment for him to grow and fully utilize his abilities.
Fan Take: This insight into Sainz’s mindset offers racing fans a deeper understanding of what it takes to go toe-to-toe with a driver of Verstappen’s caliber. It also highlights the importance of the right team environment for a driver’s success, which could shape future moves and rivalries in Formula 1.
