Carlos Sainz has openly shared that his competition with Max Verstappen in Formula 1 was not as difficult as what many other teammates of the Dutch driver have experienced. Verstappen, often considered a “team-mate killer,” has defeated six teammates throughout his career. However, Sainz stands out as one of the rare drivers who managed to keep the fight close against the current World Champion.

Both Sainz and Verstappen started their Formula 1 journeys together in 2015 with Toro Rosso. During that season, their qualifying performances were almost evenly matched, with Sainz securing pole positions ahead of Verstappen on ten occasions, while Verstappen led in nine. Yet, the races told a different story, as Verstappen consistently finished ahead ten times versus Sainz’s six, earning 49 points compared to Sainz’s 18.

Despite the overall numbers favoring Verstappen, Sainz was among the few teammates who remained competitive. Verstappen has accumulated 3,188.5 points in his career against his teammates’ combined 1,795 points, illustrating the immense challenge for anyone sharing the garage with him.

Why Sainz Feels His Challenge Was Different from Others’ Experiences

Reflecting on his time alongside Verstappen, Sainz explained that, contrary to many others, he did not endure a particularly harsh experience competing against the Dutchman. Sainz considers Verstappen one of the greatest drivers in F1 history and recognizes the exceptional challenge that comes with racing against him.

“I think everyone is having a really tough time being Max’s teammate,”
—Carlos Sainz, Driver

He added,

“I can only say that when I was Max’s teammate, I didn’t have this tough time. I was obviously incredibly surprised by how quick he was. I mean, he’s an insane driver.”
—Carlos Sainz, Driver

Furthermore, Sainz believes Verstappen is destined to become one of the all-time greats, if he isn’t already.

“He’s probably going to become one of the best ever in history, if he’s not already one.”
—Carlos Sainz, Driver

Intensity of Their Debut Season Together

Sainz described their rookie year as immensely demanding, stating it was likely the most intense period of his life. Every practice session felt like a battle against Verstappen, which pushed both drivers to their limits.

He recalled that at the time Verstappen was just 16 or 17 years old, but both shared a fierce mindset to compete under extreme pressure. Sainz said they examined every detail obsessively, driving each session as if it were a qualifying round.

“Every session, every FP1, we were going for it like crazy! Like, for me, FP1 was qualifying,”

he noted, emphasizing how seriously they approached every opportunity on track.

They were also both strong racers in wet conditions, a skill they had developed in lower racing categories. Sainz remembered challenging Verstappen in Suzuka during a rain-soaked practice session, where they dared to push the limits on intermediate tires despite difficult conditions.

“So, it was like, who is quicker in the wet in Formula 1. And FP1 in Suzuka, full wets, go out on intermediates tyres, aquaplaning like crazy, just to try and show in the first wet session of my life in Formula 1, without knowing the track, I was quicker than Max, and vice versa,”

Sainz said.

He also recounted taking risks that might have been too great but ultimately showed his determination to compete equally with Verstappen.

How This Intensity Shaped Sainz’s Career

The extreme pressure and competition against Verstappen left a lasting impression on Sainz, who viewed the demanding nature of the battle as a formative experience. Despite how taxing it was, Sainz said he would not change the experience for anything.

“It was honestly exhausting. That level of pressure builds you. I wouldn’t change it, I would still do it all over again.”
—Carlos Sainz, Driver

This early exposure to high-stakes competition helped shape Sainz’s approach as a driver and remains a testament to the challenge Verstappen presents to his teammates. The lessons learned from battling one of F1’s best likely continue to influence Sainz’s performance as he competes at the top level of the sport.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Why does Carlos Sainz have 55?

A. Over the years, the number 55 has become closely linked with the Spaniard, both in his racing career and personal life. Sainz picked this number because it cleverly resembles his name, “Carlo5 5ainz.”