Max Verstappen F1 rival talks 'locking horns' with Red Bull star

Max Verstappen in Barcelona — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Max Verstappen F1 rival talks 'locking horns' with Red Bull star

The Dutchman has consistently outperformed his team-mates on his journey to the top of F1

Originally written by Kevin McKenna. This version is a translation.

Tuesday 15 July 2025 17:00

Former Max Verstappen teammate Carlos Sainz has opened up on 'locking horns' with the four-time F1 champion.

Verstappen and Sainz were both affiliated with Red Bull as they made their first steps into the sport, with the pair having been teammates at Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) in 2015 and 2016.

Their tenure as teammates only lasted four races in that second season, however, with Verstappen promoted to the main Red Bull team at that point, replacing Daniil Kvyat

However, during the time they spent together, the pair struck up a rivalry, and now, speaking on the High Performance Podcast, the Spaniard has revealed the challenges involved in going up against the Dutchman and how it was inevitable they would clash.

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"It was a year to prove yourself," Sainz explained. "Trying to beat Max, Max trying to beat me to see who's better, and if you win, you maybe go to Red Bull.

"If you manage to shine and not win, you stay with Toro Rosso and you stay in F1 and make a career. If you get destroyed or lose, you are out of Formula 1; it's two opposites.

Sainz reveals Verstappen tension

"I love Toro Rosso, but that team, up until recent years, has always been a playground for Helmut Marko and Christian Horner to put the two drivers there to see who's better and [can] jump to Red Bull."

Sainz went on to point out that despite the demanding environment within the team, their strategy has ultimately paid dividends.

"No criticism, because that team works well," he added. "It delivers great drivers to Formula 1, it did with Sebastian [Vettel], it did with Max.

"It has Isack [Hadjar] doing great, Liam [Lawson] recovering from his Red Bull episode.

"It still serves its purpose but the reality is that you're always going to lock horns with your teammate there, and especially at the time with two rookies, like with Max and me, we were always going to lock horns."

Despite not making the grade at Red Bull, Sainz has gone on to carve out a successful career in the sport, representing McLaren, Ferrari, and now Williams.

Verstappen, meanwhile, has become one of F1's all-time greats, but his future with his current employers hangs in the balance, with the 27-year-old rumoured to be eyeing up an exit.

NASCAR Red Bull Max Verstappen Formula 1 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso