In 2025, Max Verstappen secured the most pole positions. Despite not always having the fastest car and winning fewer Grand Prix than his McLaren rivals, the Dutchman clocked the fastest time on six Saturdays. However, according to Carlos Sainz, Verstappen is not the fastest driver over a single lap. The Spaniard believes his former teammates Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc are quicker.
Carlos Sainz has raced alongside all three drivers. He began his Formula 1 career as a teammate to Max Verstappen at the then Toro Rosso. After a stint at Renault, he moved to McLaren with Lando Norris, before trying his luck at Ferrari with Charles Leclerc. Sainz now believes that Verstappen is slightly slower over a single lap than his other former teammates, although the Dutchman would still be faster than both Norris and Leclerc during a race.
In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Sainz was asked about the fastest drivers in Formula 1. “The fastest in the race or over a single lap?” he responded. “Over a single lap, it’s Charles (Leclerc). It would be between Leclerc and Norris. But over an entire race, Max (Verstappen) is the best,” Sainz judged. He was then asked who would win in the same car, where he emphasized the decisive role of the team.
“It depends on the car,” he explained. “If they were driving a Red Bull, it seems clear to me that Verstappen is the best.” In a Mercedes, for example, it would be a completely different story, according to Sainz. “Russell can handle his Mercedes incredibly well,” the Spaniard added. “In that car, it would be very difficult for us to beat him. In the case of Williams, I would say the same about Albon and myself. It all comes down to the car.”
