Carlos Sainz feels he didn’t have such a “powerful time” towards Max Verstappen as his teammate in comparison with another Method 1 drivers who shared a storage with him.
As graduates of Pink Bull’s junior programme, each Sainz and Verstappen made their F1 debuts with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) in 2015, forming one of the vital thrilling rookie pairings in current reminiscence.
Verstappen outscored Sainz 49-18 factors over the course of the season throughout which the latter was suffering from a number of reliability issues.
Nonetheless, the Spaniard did maintain the sting in qualifying, beating his then 17-year-old teammate 10-9 along with his spectacular one-lap tempo.
Verstappen was promoted to Pink Bull simply 4 races into the 2016 season, the place he went on to determine himself as a dominant pressure in F1. Sainz, in the meantime, continued an upward trajectory of his personal and moved to Renault in late 2017.
In recent times, Verstappen’s teammates have struggled to get any near his stage at Pink Bull, particularly with the Milton Keynes squad creating vehicles more and more tailor-made to the Dutchman’s driving model.
However Sainz stated he takes confidence from the truth that he was capable of present what he was able to towards Verstappen, whom he ranks as among the many best possible in F1’s 75-year historical past.
“Everyone seems to be having a very powerful time being Max’s teammate,” Sainz stated on the Excessive Efficiency Podcast.
“I can solely say that after I was Max’s teammate, I didn’t have this powerful time. I used to be clearly extremely shocked by how fast he was, with how he’s an insane driver.
“He’s most likely going out to be among the finest ever in historical past, if he’s not already one one of the best ever in historical past.
“However that first 12 months collectively since then has given me the arrogance to know I may be up towards anybody.
“I have been teammates with Charles [Leclerc], Lando [Norris], Nico Hulkenberg. I have been teammates with very fast guys, most likely one of the best within the sport.
“Now Alex [Albon], extremely quick additionally. Simply makes me wish to be up towards one of the best nonetheless.
“It hasn’t made me go like, ‘no, I do not need’. I do know I can take it and I do know I have been profitable up to now.”
Rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr just lately stated he would have preferred to see his son reunite with Verstappen at Pink Bull, believing the 30-year-old “would have beloved that problem.”
Sainz Jr was seen as a possible candidate for Pink Bull after Ferrari elected to poach Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, leaving him on the 2026 driver market.
The Spaniard ultimately selected to signal a long-term take care of Williams, whereas Pink Bull dropped Sergio Perez in favour of Liam Lawson, earlier than changing Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda for the third spherical of the season.
Sainz stated that he would have accepted a suggestion to drive towards Verstappen at Pink Bull had such a possibility arrived.
“I do not know when he [my father] stated that however we have already had it [being teammates],” Sainz stated.
“We’ve each moved on quite a bit as drivers, most likely Max has developed massively as a driver, however I even have.
“It is inconceivable to know, we’ll most likely know. That is most likely not gonna occur anymore. However I can solely inform you if that chance would have come, I most likely would have taken it.
“Wouldn’t it have been the appropriate factor for my profession or how would life end up from my life factors onwards? We are going to by no means know, so it isn’t price discussing.
“What I do know is that I additionally wanted a staff that totally backed me. I do know what my skills are as a driver and I really feel like in that sense Williams has given me the appropriate setting to thrive in.”
