“Carlos Sainz Has Been Overlooked”: Helmut Marko Reveals Outcry When Max Verstappen Was Chosen Over Ferrari Star

Tanish Chachra | 17/05/2023
"Carlos Sainz Has Been Overlooked": Helmut Marko Reveals Outcry When Max Verstappen Was Chosen Over Ferrari Star

Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen got their first breakthrough in Formula 1 together at Toro Rosso. However, it was the Dutchman who got the quicker rise, while Sainz had to take a longer route to the top of the field.

Helmut Marko, the man who discovered both drivers reveals to Business F1 that there was a huge outcry when Sainz didn’t get the promotion before Verstappen when the moment came.

In 2016, Red Bull was fed up with Daniil Kvyat’s incompetency. Therefore, a Toro Rosso driver was set to get a promotion, and it was Verstappen over Sainz that was chosen despite the latter having more experience.

Helmut Marko claims people wanted Carlos Sainz above

Sainz was also a relatively impressive driver at Toro Rosso. So, it’s natural that he had admirers. But despite Verstappen amassing double the points Sainz did in 2015, people still wanted the Spaniard to get the earlier nod.

“There was an outcry because some felt Carlos Sainz had been overlooked,” reveals Helmut Marko to Business F1. “His development was also very good, and the difference between the two was minimal. But despite having less experience Max was the faster driver.”

Marko further opines that there was nothing bad about Sainz. However, the Red Bull advisor thinks that the now Ferrari star was just unlucky to be pitted against a generational talent like Verstappen.

Helmut Marko vindicated by Max Verstappen

An 18-year-old Verstappen making his debut for Red Bull. Everything could have gone wrong from here, maybe he wasn’t ready and could have succumbed to all the pressure. Thus, Marko risked his credibility to give the Dutch superstar his first opportunity at the front.

And oh boy! Verstappen with his phenomenal debut with Red Bull actually vindicated Marko against his doubters. At 18, Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix, his debut race with his current team, and the rest is history.

From 2015 to 2023, Verstappen has come a long way. He has two-world championships to his name and is currently leading the race for his third title. He is only three race wins away from equalling Ayrton Senna’s win tally and is only 25 years old. The world is at his feet, and Marko couldn’t have been more right.

Post Edited By: Tanish Chachra
carlos sainz Helmut Marko Max Verstappen Red Bull

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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