Overview

• Sainz told the High Performance podcast he does not understand why Red Bull declined to sign him as Verstappen’s teammate after he left Ferrari.
• He notes their 2015 rookie season at Toro Rosso featured a healthy rivalry that built mutual confidence and delivered competitive results.
• Red Bull extended Sergio Perez’s contract before trialling Liam Lawson and promoting Yuki Tsunoda, but both have struggled to match Verstappen’s performance.
• After being passed over by both Red Bull and Mercedes, Sainz signed a multi-year deal with Williams, where he has scored 13 points this season alongside Alex Albon.
• He argues his experience and past compatibility with Verstappen would have given Red Bull a steadier second car than its current lineup of junior graduates.