Carlos Sainz has dismissed strategies that having a poor relationship with Max Verstappen meant he missed out on a Crimson Bull drive for the 2025 F1 season.
Sainz was within the body to associate Verstappen for 2025 – however Crimson Bull opted to provide Sergio Perez a brand new deal.
The Spaniard was additionally missed by Mercedes as they seemed for a Lewis Hamilton substitute.
This left Sainz with numerous midfield choices, in the end signing for Williams.
One purpose to clarify Crimson Bull’s determination to reject Sainz was the stress at Toro Rosso between his camp and the Verstappens in 2015.
The pair spent simply over one season collectively as teammates earlier than Verstappen was promoted to Crimson Bull in 2016.
There have been claims that the 2 fathers concerned – Carlos Sainz Sr and Jos Verstappen – clashed, leading to friction throughout the group.
Nevertheless, Sainz has no doubts that 10 years on, each he and Verstappen have “matured rather a lot”.
“I believe I’d hit it off with him,” he instructed German publication Auto Motor und Sport. “We had been 16 and 19 years outdated again then, we have matured rather a lot.
“At Toro Rosso, they put you in a group and say, ‘Struggle one another, then we’ll see who’s the very best and who will get promoted to Crimson Bull!’ That is the explanation why Toro Rosso exists.
“You do not drive there collectively for the group classification, in any other case the behaviour of the 2 drivers would change fully.
“You may see it with Charles and Lando, my final two teammates. There have been by no means any issues.
“So if my relationship with Max was the explanation why I did not find yourself there, then I’d say there would have been no issues. If the choice depended solely on that, then it could merely be incorrect, however I’ve already instructed them that.”
