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Carlos Sainz points out he “didn’t have a tough time” as Max Verstappen F1 teammate
Carlos Sainz reflects on his time as teammates with Max Verstappen in Formula 1, feeling he didn’t have as tough of a time compared to others who shared a garage with the Dutch driver. Both drivers debuted in F1 with Toro Rosso in 2015, with Verstappen outscoring Sainz over the season despite the Spaniard’s qualifying edge. Verstappen moved on to Red Bull early in the 2016 season, where he established himself as a top driver, while Sainz continued progressing, eventually moving to Renault in 2017.
Sainz acknowledges the challenge of being Verstappen’s teammate and takes confidence from their time together, recognizing Verstappen as one of the best drivers in F1 history. Despite his success against top drivers like Leclerc and Norris, Sainz remains open to facing the best talents in the sport. His father, Carlos Sainz Sr, expressed interest in seeing Sainz Jr reunite with Verstappen at Red Bull, but the younger Sainz chose to commit to Williams, had Red Bull offered an opportunity to compete with Verstappen, Sainz would have likely accepted the challenge.
