Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen are two of the most popular drivers in Formula 1 today. They started their journey in the sport at the exact same time when they were signed by Red Bull’s sister team Toro Rosso in 2015. The first race they took part in was that year’s Australian GP, but their career as gone in very different trajectories since then.
Sainz spent just two seasons as a Red Bull junior before moving to Renault for better opportunities. His two seasons with the Enstone-based outfit were followed by two more at McLaren. However, joining Ferrari in 2021 became the biggest move in his career thus far. Sainz finally won his first-ever F1 race at last year’s British Grand Prix and hopes to win more in the coming years.
Verstappen meanwhile has been with the Red Bull family for the entirety of his F1 career so far. He spent a year and a half at Toro Rosso, before getting a Red Bull call-up and shocking the world by winning the Spanish Grand Prix in his first-ever outing with the Milton-Keynes-based outfit.
Also read: Max Verstappen Takes Break From His Hectic Red Bull Schedule in $27,500 Honda SUV
The unique similarity between Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen
Sainz and Verstappen both started their F1 journey on the very same day. While one has gone on to become a double World Champion, the other is still looking to be in his first Title battle. Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021 with the hopes of competing for the Championship but so far it hasn’t gone his way.
2022 saw Ferrari make a car that could challenge for the Title. Unfortunately, things did not go Sainz’s way, or Ferrari’s for that matter. Verstappen meanwhile, won both the 2021 and 2022 Drivers’ Championship Titles, solidifying his status as an all-time great in F1, even at the young age of 25.
However, both drivers have a very interesting similarity in terms of milestone. Verstappen and Sainz both, won their respective 150th races in F1. This is an interesting coincidence, especially because they started their F1 careers together.
Heading into 2023, Sainz is hoping that he can follow in his former teammate’s footsteps and fight for the World Championship for the first time in his career.
