Carlos Sainz has addressed speculation regarding his relationship with Max Verstappen and the reasons behind his absence from the Red Bull team, clarifying their connection during his career. Discussing his time alongside Verstappen and recent career moves, Sainz shed light on how their dynamic evolved and why he ultimately joined Williams for the 2025 season.
Insights into Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen’s Relationship
Carlos Sainz’s early Formula 1 career included close ties with the Red Bull family, having debuted with Toro Rosso in 2015, where he was a teammate to Max Verstappen during Verstappen’s rookie year. Although Verstappen ended that season stronger, the two maintained a friendly and professional rivalry that laid the foundation for mutual respect.
Throughout early discussions about team line-ups for the 2025 season, Sainz was widely considered a candidate for a seat at Red Bull. However, there was persistent speculation that Verstappen had vetoed Sainz’s arrival, complicating any potential transfer to the Milton Keynes-based squad. Despite this, Sainz dispelled these rumors during an interview on the High Performance podcast.
“The only thing I could say is that I genuinely get on well with Max [Verstappen]. This is what people don’t see from the outside. We had a rivalry in our first year in Formula 1 at Toro Rosso, but it was a relatively healthy rivalry in terms of how we used to go about racing. And now we get on really well. If that’s the reason, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t want me next to Max, because I think we would actually be a very strong pairing in Formula 1.”
—Carlos Sainz, Formula 1 driver
While Sergio Perez’s struggles during the season brought Sainz back into discussions for a Red Bull contract, the move failed to materialize. Within the paddock, many believed such a transfer could jeopardize Verstappen’s position within the team. Ultimately, Sainz’s lack of long-term prospects with top-tier teams influenced his decision to sign with Williams for 2025.
Challenges Faced by Sainz at Williams in 2025
After joining Williams, Sainz was expected to lead the Grove-based team as their principal driver. However, his teammate Alex Albon has so far maintained a stronger performance, often emerging as Williams’ main point scorer despite Sainz’s status as the team’s lead signing.
Luck has not favored Sainz in the opening half of the season, with several incidents preventing him from scoring consistently. At the British Grand Prix, Sainz was positioned to secure a significant points haul before an incident involving Charles Leclerc pushed him out of the top 10, further hampering his campaign.
“We were in the ideal position to score a top-seven, top-eight result. And suddenly fighting with Charles, he lost control of the car and took me out. Now we need to wait another two weeks to go racing but it gets to a point where it’s just extremely frustrating and depressing.”
—Carlos Sainz, Formula 1 driver
Despite these setbacks, Sainz has accumulated 13 points in the first half of the 2025 Formula 1 season, underscoring ongoing challenges but also his resilience as a competitor.
Implications for Sainz’s Career and Formula 1 Landscape
Carlos Sainz’s clarification on his relationship with Max Verstappen puts to rest long-standing rumors of discord between the two drivers, highlighting a healthy professional dynamic despite competitive periods. His acknowledgment of their strong pairing potential offers insight into what might have been, had he joined Red Bull.
Moving to Williams represents a new chapter for Sainz, where he aims to assert himself as a leading driver despite current difficulties. The 2025 season will be crucial for his aspirations to regain momentum and prove his capabilities within a team seeking to improve its standing.
As the season progresses, Sainz’s performance will be closely observed, particularly in how he adapts to the challenges at Williams and whether this move shapes his future opportunities in Formula 1’s highly competitive environment.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Carlos Sainz a millionaire?
A. As per the well-known source Celebrity Net Worth, Carlos Sainz is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $50 million in the year 2025.
Q. Is Carlos Sainz intelligent?
A. The Spaniard is both smart and intuitive, navigating races with strategy to earn points.
Q. Is Carlos Sainz smart?
A. It’s not surprising that people call Sainz “Chilli” because he combines quick reflexes with smart thinking during races to secure points.
