Carlos Sainz Jr's 'ask Christian Horner' response as he clears up Max Verstappen rift rumours
Carlos Sainz Jr believes only Christian Horner knows why Red Bull did not try to sign him as Max Verstappen's partner. Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari brought down the curtain on Sainz's time with Scuderia.
As Sergio Perez struggled in the second Red Bull car last year, Sainz had a more successful final season with Ferrari. He finished fifth in the overall standings, 67 points ahead of his successor Hamilton and 138 ahead of Perez.
After the Mexican's exit from Red Bull was confirmed, it seemed logical for Horner – who was recently sacked by the Milton Keynes based F1 team – to consider Sainz. However, nearly a year after Helmut Marko claimed Sainz and Verstappen had a toxic relationship in their campaign together in 2015, Liam Lawson was instead promoted to the second seat.
He was swiftly replaced by fellow Racing Bulls graduate Yuki Tsunoda after just two Grands Prix. Sainz, who went on to join Williams, admitted he was confused as to why Red Bull did not try and sign him, stating he has a good relationship with Verstappen.
On The High Performance podcast, when asked if he thinks Verstappen didn't want him at Red Bull, Sainz replied: "This is what people have concluded or how people are trying to explain or understand it.
"The only thing I can say is that you will need to go and ask Christian or whoever seems competent to answer this question. The only thing I could say is that I genuinely get on well with Max.
"That is what people do not see from the outside. We had a rivalry in our first year in F1, but it was a relatively healthy rivalry in terms of him and me, the way we used to go about racing.
"Now we get on really well. So if that's the reason, I don't understand why they would not want me next to Max, because I think we would actually be a very strong pairing in F1."
Horner was recently dismissed as team principal, with Verstappen currently behind leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the Driver's Championship table. Sainz has also struggled at Williams and remains without a podium finish.
Whilst there was a touch of frustration in Sainz's comments, the Madrid-born racer has also looked at the broader perspective. He added: "I think everyone is having a really tough time being Max's team-mate. I can only say that when I was Max's team-mate, I did not have this really tough time. I was obviously, incredibly, surprised with how quick he was.
"He is an insane driver. He is going to go out as one of the best drivers in history, if he's not already one of the best ever in history, but that first year together, since then, has given me the confidence to know that I can be up against anyone.
"I have been team-mates with Charles (LeClerc), Lando (Norris) and Nico (Hulkenberg), I have been team-mates with very quick guys, probably the best in the sport, and now Alexander (Albon) who is incredibly fast.
"It just makes me want to be up against the best still, it hasn't made me go, 'No, I don't want this.' I know I can take it and I know I have been successful in the past."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Jos Verstappen squirms after being hit with awkward Christian Horner question as father of Red Bull star Max is grilled on rift with ex-team boss following his Formula One sacking
Jos Verstappen was left squirming on live television as former world champion Nico Rosberg confronted him with his past comments about Christian Horner. Horner was dismissed as team principal and CEO of Red Bull earlier this month after 20 years with the team, having overseen their transformation from upstart on the grid to winner of six constructors' championships and eight drivers' championships. Although his sacking came over a year after the former team principal was engulfed in a high-profile investigation, Horner's dismissal was said to be purely performance-related. In February last year, the 51-year-old was accused of sexual harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour by a female employee. He was twice cleared, initially after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer, and then by another lawyer who dismissed the female employee's appeal. Around the time, Jos - influential father of Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen - called for Horner's exit. MailOnline reported that Jos was spending time with the woman at the heart of the sexting scandal, and that the controversy 'caused even more difficulties' in his and Horner's already-fragile relationship. Jos Verstappen on Christian Horner's Red Bull exit 🗣️ — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 27, 2025 The two warring F1 giants 'never really saw eye to eye in the first place'. But Jos has now downplayed any alleged tensions he had with Horner. Being interviewed on the grid ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Sky Sports reporter Martin Brundle asked Jos: 'Big changes in the team. Are you and Max and everybody happy with where it's going so far?' Jos issued a diplomatic response. 'Well, they decided to change so I'm fine with everything, so as long as it works,' he said. Rosberg then reminded Jos of his public call last year for Horner to step down. The former Mercedes driver said: 'Last year, you said: "Horner needs to go because he's going to destroy the team".' Jos tried to brush it off, replying: 'That was a year ago. It's different. I have nothing to say. It's fine.' But Rosberg pressed again, 'Now you're quiet? You're quiet now?' to which Jos responded: 'I'm always quiet.' Throughout the scandal, Max's loyalty remained with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, the man who discovered and backed him as a teenager. Jos was spending time with the woman at the heart of the sexting scandal, and the controversy 'caused even more difficulties' in his and Horner's relationship When Marko threatened to quit during a power struggle between himself and Horner in early 2024, Max made his stance clear. From then onwards, Horner's position at the team was precarious. It is understood that Horner's expanding grip on power within the Red Bull structure, including control over marketing, technical, and engine departments, had caused friction at the top. Max, who has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, has been persistently linked with a shock switch to Mercedes. But the four-time champion insisted Horner's exit will have no bearing on his Formula One future. The Dutchman said: 'No, it doesn't really. Now, I think people can have a difference of opinion here and then... I don't think it will matter at all for my decision in the future. 'And yet, the only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really.'
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Defeated but proud: Madrileños brave the heat to roar on La Roja
Despite the air-fryer temperature outside and the imminent, annual August exodus, the people of Madrid weren't going to miss out on another opportunity to watch their national football team prove its mettle against the country that had given the world the beautiful game. After all, recent international fixtures had not gone all that badly for them. By 5.45pm on Sunday, the Parque de Berlín, which lies 1 mile east of the Bernabéu stadium, was filling up with people who were braving the 35C (95F) heat to stand in front of a large and heavily sponsored screen. Some drank beer, others picnicked or fanned themselves, and some queued for free T-shirts. An admirably patriotic Spanish mastiff had also turned out, a rojigualda flag proudly knotted around its thick and magnificent neck. Close by stood municipal health workers and police officers who had probably endured more strenuous assignments. All, however, were inclined to agree with the excitable MC who bellowed that they were about to witness something very, very special as the countdown to the women's Euro final began. 'We have to look at this as something amazing,' he hollered over the PA system, which was loud even by Spanish standards. 'This is a triumph for the women's team. They're going to make history! They're going to do it again!' The Spanish capital and its public spaces are not without practice when it comes to massive spectator events, especially when the sport in question is football and the opponents are England. A little over a year ago, thousands of spectators had packed the Plaza de Colón in central Madrid to watch La Roja beat England 2-1 to clinch a fourth men's Euro title. And, almost a year before that, the red-and-yellow hordes had descended on the WiZink Center venue to experience the giddy high of Spain winning the Women's World Cup 1-0. That day, once again, England were the runners-up. As the match began, those who had come to the park to watch the final reflected on what the game meant – and offered final-score predictions. Joaquina, a 60-year-old civil servant from Madrid, sat on a bench with her friend María and shared her immoveable certainty. 'We're going to win – there's no doubt about that,' she said. 'We're the best.' Her prediction was equally unwavering: 'We're going to win it 2-0.' María was just as convinced. 'Today is a very important day,' she said. 'And we're going to win it.' Although the crowd was mixed-age – from babies and toddlers to grandparents – it was noticeably more female than usual. As far as Elena, a 49-year-old teacher, was concerned, that was hardly surprising. 'Today is a really important day because they've worked really hard to get here,' she said, waiting alongside her daughters for the game to begin. 'Spain always comes to a standstill when the men's team play and do well – which is great. But we need to see the same thing when the women play.' The team, she said, had overcome adversity on so many fronts – not just on the pitch but also against their own federation. 'They've fought so much and they're role models for young Spanish women and girls.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Her daughter Inés nodded her agreement: 'It's really special and I'm so happy for them.' Apart from being happy, how confident was she? 'Oh, they'll win 3-0.' Proof of the growing appeal of the women's game was evident in the number of young men who had also decided to watch the match alfresco. The cheer that greeted Mariona Caldentey's goal in the 25th minute of the match was full-throated and equally male and female. 'Women's football is really growing here and it's great to see so many people here have brought their kids,' said a Mexican man who is married to a Spaniard. 'We've just had a baby girl so it's important to be here and to know that she can have a future in football if she decides that's what she wants to do.' Also in the crowd was a five-year-old girl named Leire, who was sitting on the sand next to her mother, Aymara. 'We came down here because she's really excited by women's football,' said Aymara. 'In fact, she's so into the women's game that she complains if we watch the men's game at home.' Leire's generation, she added, had seen Spain's women win the World Cup and simply couldn't understand why their game wasn't as celebrated as the men's. The young Barcelona supporter also felt confident of a Spanish triumph. 'We're going to win 3,000-0,' Leire predicted. But it was not to be. After full-time, extra time and a heart-stopping penalty shootout, England triumphed over a superior Spain. As the sun began to go down over the park, the crowds drifted away, hot, tired and disappointed, but not dejected. Spain's women had done their country proud. Again.
Sunday Post
8 hours ago
- Sunday Post
Dario Franchitti on the horror crash that almost killed him
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Motor racing star Dario Franchitti revealed his doctors joked he was like Humpty Dumpty as they fought to put him back together again after the horror crash which almost killed him. The Bathgate-born legend, known worldwide for his quadruple IndyCar championship wins and three victories at the Indianapolis 500, remembers nothing from the crash 12 years ago in Houston. He said: 'I was really lucky that I had a team of IndyCar doctors – Terry Trammell and Steve Olvey. 'I was their Humpty Dumpty, and they put me back together a number of times. Getting injured is an occupational hazard in motorsports. 'But last time, I knew something was very wrong. I don't remember anything about the accident, but I do remember the look on their faces. Instead of the usual 'if you do this, this and this' I could see from their faces that their attitude had changed to 'mmm, we'll see', so I knew I was in big trouble.' One of the last things Dario remembers is attending a friend's wedding three weeks before the accident. He said: 'A few tiny bits have come back from the actual day. I was in the pick-up truck ready to do the parade lap and the driver shut the window on my hand. I remember my fingers were in the bloody door. 'I remember the little earpieces you wear which have G-sensors in them to measure how hard you hit your head if you crash. They had come disconnected. It was hitting me in the armpit, and it was annoying me in the car. 'I remember flying in a wee hospital plane, but the best part of that month has just gone.' The racing hero, who was inducted into the Scottish Sporting Hall of fame two years ago, admits he had 'tricked' the doctors several times over just how quickly he recovered in the past just so he could keep racing. But his last accident not only cost Dario his career, it also almost cost him his life. He said: 'I tricked them when I broke my pelvis. I was back in the car three weeks later. When I broke my back on the motorbike in 2003, I raced the following week.' But the 100mph Houston accident has left him still struggling from the head injuries he suffered. On top of the memory loss, Dario, 52, still cannot walk properly when he gets up in the mornings. Unsurprisingly, he thinks about the accident every single day. Dario eventually retired from racing in 2013 after another accident. Today, Dario, who was awarded the MBE, helps train other drivers and commentates on the sport, but he still cannot bear to watch his own accidents on television. He said: 'I think I had actually retired before I watched the 2013 one. When I saw the actual shunt, it made me go 'urgh Jesus!' and I had to close my eyes. 'I wound it back and you can see the suspension of Takuma Sato's car breaking up. I still think about it every morning. 'Although I think about it, I'm massively grateful, every day, because I've lost some great friends in this sport. It's definitely a double-edged sword. I always had a healthy respect for what we did. 'I was a bit more risk averse when I was younger. As time went by, I did become less risk averse, and I was able to shut it out. Jackie Stewart would call that mind management.' Dario still loses words, and faces which were once recognisable can draw a blank. But he dismisses this as a 'minor inconvenience' compared to other drivers who have lost their lives in the world's most exciting but supremely dangerous sport. He said: 'I repeat myself and my decision making isn't as sharp as it once was. 'I forget words and people I've known I sometimes don't recognise. 'It can be embarrassing, but it beats the alternative. 'I could have died.' The driver opened up to fellow motorsport legend Jason Plato on the podcast Fuelling Around, powered by specialist motor insurer AdrianFlux, available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, AudioBoom and other outlets.
