F1 News: Marko Opens Up On Verstappen And Sainz Relationship Amid 2025 Seat Rumours - “Was Quite Toxic”

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko reveals Max Verstappen's relationship with Carlos Sainz was previously "quite toxic" during their time as teammates.

Oct 22, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz (left) of Team Spain talks / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has recently shed light on the once-strained dynamics between Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz at Toro Rosso, amidst speculations of their potential collaboration at Red Bull in the 2025 F1 season.

Key Takeaways:

• Marko reveals the previous discord between Verstappen and Sainz at Toro Rosso, describing the atmosphere as notably tense.
• Following an outstanding start to the 2024 season and a notable victory in Australia, Sainz emerges as a hot commodity for the 2025 driver market, with Red Bull in the mix.
• Red Bull's Christian Horner acknowledges the possibility of considering Sainz for the team, amidst the impending conclusion of Sergio Perez's contract.

May 8, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

While there are many rumours about Carlos Sainz's future in Formula 1, Helmut Marko's revelation about the former's challenging rapport with Max Verstappen during their Toro Rosso stint has raised question marks over the potential move for the Spanish driver. This comes after Sainz's commendable performance in the 2024 season so far, notably clinching victory at the Australian Grand Prix shortly after recovering from surgery, marking him as the sole non-Red Bull victor since the 2023 season commenced.

This surge in Sainz's performance and the fact that Lewis Hamilton is set to replace him at Ferrari in 2025 has prompted discussions about his next move, with Red Bull being a speculated contender. Red Bull's chief, Christian Horner, has hinted at the openness to integrating Sainz into their 2025 lineup, especially in light of Sergio Perez's contract nearing its end.

Oct 23, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Helmut Marko of Red Bull Racing Team holds up the World / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

However, the Verstappen-Sainz tandem at Toro Rosso was marked by competitive tension, with both drivers vying for the senior team's attention. Marko acknowledged the difficulty in managing the duo, pointing out the unfortunate timing of Sainz's pairing with Verstappen. Marko also addressed the perceptions surrounding Sainz, often overshadowed by his father's legacy, asserting that Sainz's journey in F1 was marked by consistent effort and resilience, contrary to the notion of him being a 'spoiled son'. Marko commented, as quoted by PlanetF1:

“For a long time, he lived in the shadow of his father, the two-time World Rally Champion.

“He was unfairly saddled with the image of being the spoiled son of a racing driver whereas on the contrary, Carlos had to fight consistently to get ahead.

“It was his bad luck to get Max as a team-mate. The atmosphere between the two at Toro Rosso was quite toxic.

“In the setup we had at the time, I couldn’t see a way of keeping him with us and so he moved to Renault, McLaren and then on to Ferrari.”