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A BLOCKED MOVE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

The world of Formula 1 thrives on rivalries, last-minute surprises, and high-stakes power struggles. But even in a sport defined by unpredictability, few expected this—Carlos Sainz was on the verge of returning to Red Bull, a move that could have reshaped the championship battle. But just as things seemed to fall into place, one unexpected factor shut down the opportunity completely— Max Verstappen

With Sergio Pérez’s contract expiring soon, the F1 paddock was buzzing with speculation about Red Bull’s future lineup. Many believed Sainz, a proven race winner and former Red Bull junior driver, was the ideal candidate. Instead, the deal was silently blocked, leaving fans stunned

What really happened behind the scenes Why did Verstappen step in to stop the move And what does this mean for Carlos Sainz’s future in Formula 1

VERSTAPPEN VS. SAINZ—A RIVALRY THAT NEVER ENDED

FROM TEAMMATES TO BITTER COMPETITORS

To understand why Verstappen prevented Sainz’s return to Red Bull, you have to go back to 2015, when both drivers debuted in Formula 1 as teammates at Toro Rosso

At the time, the competition between the two rookies was fierce. Carlos Sainz, son of rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., was widely regarded as one of the most promising talents of his generation. But alongside him stood Max Verstappen—a teenage sensation who would quickly steal the spotlight

The internal battle was intense, with both drivers fighting to prove they were the better prospect for a future Red Bull seat. Sainz had experience, technical understanding, and a smooth driving style. Verstappen, on the other hand, had raw speed, aggressive overtakes, and an instinct for finding gaps where no one else could

Then came the turning point—in early 2016, Red Bull made a shocking decision to promote Verstappen to the senior team, completely bypassing Sainz. And the decision paid off immediately. Verstappen won his first race for Red Bull in Spain, becoming the youngest race winner in F1 history

Sainz, left behind at Toro Rosso, was forced to watch his former teammate take the spotlight. While he eventually found success at Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari, the rivalry between him and Verstappen never fully disappeared

Fast forward to today, and history seems to be repeating itself. Sainz saw an opening at Red Bull, only to be shut down by Verstappen once again

WHY VERSTAPPEN REFUSED TO HAVE SAINZ AS A TEAMMATE

VERSTAPPEN WANTS TOTAL CONTROL AT RED BULL

Since 2021, Red Bull has been completely built around Verstappen. Every decision, every strategy, and every car development is designed to maximize his performance

Unlike Mercedes, where Hamilton and Rosberg once battled for dominance, Red Bull has a clear number-one driver philosophy—and Verstappen sits firmly at the top

Bringing in Carlos Sainz, a driver who refuses to play a supporting role, would have threatened this carefully structured hierarchy. Unlike Sergio Pérez, who has reluctantly accepted his position as the team’s second driver, Sainz would have demanded equal treatment

This was a risk Verstappen was not willing to take. He doesn’t want another aggressive, ambitious driver challenging his authority within the team

RED BULL STILL REMEMBERS THEIR PAST CLASHES

Despite being teammates at Toro Rosso, Verstappen and Sainz never had a great relationship. The two frequently clashed on and off the track, with Sainz once even accusing Red Bull of unfairly favoring Verstappen

If Red Bull were to bring Sainz back, it could have led to internal tension and a toxic team environment—something the team’s leadership wants to avoid at all costs

THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR RED BULL

Another factor working against Sainz was that Red Bull already had other candidates lined up

Daniel Ricciardo—the fan-favorite former Red Bull driver who has been working his way back through AlphaTauri, eager for a second chance

Yuki Tsunoda—a Honda-backed talent who has improved significantly and could be a valuable asset, especially with Honda continuing their partnership with Red Bull’s junior team

Liam Lawson—one of the most exciting young talents, already being groomed for a future seat at Red Bull or AlphaTauri

With these drivers waiting in the wings, Red Bull had no urgent need to bring back Sainz, especially if it meant disrupting team harmony

THE AFTERMATH—WHAT NOW FOR CARLOS SAINZ

SAINZ’S FUTURE IN F1 IS UNCERTAIN