Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsToro Rosso

Verstappen plays down rivalry with Sainz

Max Verstappen dismissed claims that his rivalry with Toro Rosso team mate Carlos Sainz is reaching a boiling point.

Verstappen was at the center of some colorful and repetitive radio messages in the latter part of last Sunday's Australian GP, the Dutchman expressing to his frustration and impatience with having to deal with Sainz, whom he considered slower than him at that point of the race.

The Toro Rosso junior bull urged his team to ask Sainz, himself hot on the heels of Jolyon Palmer's Renault, to let him through, but the Spaniard remained in front.

While many pundits believe the relationship between the two junior bulls is set to implode, Verstappen, who has yet to sit-down with Sainz, cold-shouldered the remarks.

"Off-track, everything is going well, so there are no issues and it doesn't affect me,' he said in an interview with Laureus.

"I think everyone wants to beat their teammate. But I do not see big problems with this."

As Verstappen demonstrated in qualifying last weekend, Toro Rosso's pace puts the team in regular contention for points this season, but a race win emulating what Sebastian Vettel achieved in 2008 still appears a distant dream for the Faenza squad.

"That would be going a bit too far," Verstappen concluded. "You always dream and have hope, but we would need a lot of luck for that."

Scene at the Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix - Quotes of the weekend

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.