How Sainz handled Red Bull's snub

When Carlos Sainz Jr first arrived in Formula 1 at the start of 2015 he was best known as the son of the two-time world rally champion legend. But over the course of the following two seasons, Sainz has dropped the 'Jr' and established himself as a competitive racer in his own right.

Overlooked in the shuffle in which his Toro Rosso team-mate Max Verstappen switched to the senior Red Bull team, Sainz has still been impressive.

He was closely matched with Verstappen and continued to shine once Daniil Kvyat was alongside him at the team.

So it wasn't a great surprise when Toro Rosso confirmed (early, by Red Bull's standards) he would be retained for 2017.

How disappointed were you to not be promoted over Max Verstappen when Daniil Kvyat lost his seat?
James Gregory, UK

In one way not disappointed because it was never in my plans. Red Bull had never said the plan was to jump to Red Bull in the fifth race of the season. But it was also a bad day for me. They chose Verstappen over me, and people underestimate how tough that was for me.

People told me how tough it was for Daniil Kvyat - "Poor Dani, poor Dani." But what about me? I'm still here in a Toro Rosso. At least Daniil got some podiums with Red Bull. I have nothing yet. So I was frustrated that everyone was saying "Poor Dani, poor Dani, let's give him time to recover", but everyone expected me to perform like I always did.

But I was proud that my two best races came just after this news. Monaco was my way of saying: 'Here we go, keep fighting and keep going and keep showing what I can do.'

Who is the quickest, you, Daniil or Max?
Aleksandr Aleksandrov, Russia

Believe me, if you ask this question of each driver they will all tell you they are, because all drivers believe they are the fastest.

Will 2017 be your last year with Toro Rosso?
Hass Monsoor, Australia

It's a very difficult question to answer, but logically you would have to say yes because no one has had a fourth year with Toro Rosso. I feel I am willing to push Red Bull and everyone in Toro Rosso for them to give me the chance to go to another team.

I think they believe I can drive for other teams. I think even Toro Rosso would be happy for me, because it means we've done another good year in 2017 and it means they've developed me to become a top driver. So it would be good news for everyone.

If Ferrari offer you a contract at some point in the future, will you accept it?
Tomislav Radic, Bosnia and Herzegovina

It depends. First, they need to offer it to [Red Bull young driver advisor] Helmut Marko and he will make the decision. I don't know if it would be the right thing to do. If Red Bull are also willing to put me up, I would always prefer a Red Bull to a Ferrari.

But you never know what can happen and it would put a smile on my face because it would mean I am doing things right.

In a boxing match, who would win: you or Max Verstappen?
Ed Stone, UK

Good question. I don't know if he takes classes, but I do. I do a lot of boxing, so if I had to put money on it, I'd put it on myself! Maybe if it's organised, with helmets and everything...

F1R: Are you also a fan of Mixed Martial Arts or is it just boxing?

CS: Sometimes kickboxing, but I'm a big fan of proper boxing. I've watched all Muhammad Ali's fights, plus documentaries about Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao. I love it.

Who has the best drivers: F1 or WRC?
Louis Westbrook, Australia

I think a World Rally Championship driver is a tiny bit more complete than a Formula 1 driver, but a WRC driver will never beat an F1 driver in an F1 car. That's the positive thing about me and my dad; people cannot compare us. They are different disciplines, so when people ask who is better, the son or the father, they will never know.

Fernando Alonso is your childhood hero. How would you describe your feelings for him? Respect, admiration - or just pals?
Elton Lam, UK

Everyone knows about the admiration and respect I have for Fernando. Not only because of his success, but because of how he has treated me since I was just 10 years old. He has always supported me. He's always said that I'll be the next best driver from Spain and I will always be very grateful for that. We are good friends.

What is your earliest memory of learning to drive? What was your first car?
Jon Schell, USA

The first car I drove was when I was two years old, a small battery car. I'll find a video soon and put it on social media. My dad was away 300 days of the year, but I was at home doing doughnuts and learning how to slide a car on corner entry. One time my parents' friends came over and I put on a car show and my dad saw it and said: "Who the hell has showed him how to do this?!" The truth is, I'd taught myself to drive.

F1R: But now you've stopped sliding the car.

CS: I still enjoy it, though. You will see me sometimes on in-laps trying something funny like this with an F1 car.

How did you feel after your qualifying crash in Austin on Sunday morning in 2015? It was right in front of me and we were all very concerned. Thankfully, you seemed OK and had a great race.
Cameron Coulson, USA

It was probably one of my toughest moments in Formula 1 because I had been P4 and P5 in practice, very quick in the rain. It was still raining quite a lot, obviously, on that Sunday morning, and all of a sudden I felt I had a great chance to shine in F1; my first proper chance to shine. I put in a lot of effort and as I went through that corner I just aquaplaned.

There was nothing I could do. As a result, I started 20th [and finished seventh] but I missed a big chance that day. It was one of my toughest moments. But there was no damage to me. No bruising. It was more up here [taps the side of his head].

Why do people call you 'Chilli'?
Anne Barnett, New Zealand

So I was out with my friends and they maybe had a couple of drinks more than they should have. They call me Charlie sometimes and then it went from Charlie to Charlies and it ended up with Chilli, and since then everyone has called me Chilli in my circle of friends.

How will the 2017 regulation changes complement your skillset?
Steve Popple, USA

I can only say that every time I've gone up a category I've enjoyed it more. I've been quicker and felt more comfortable in the car, and it puts a smile on my face every time I go faster.

It can only be better for me because I love to take my body and my mind and my skills to the limit, and the more we are on the limit, the better. I cannot wait for that first moment when I drive the car in Barcelona and go that bit quicker around Turn 3.

Which track do you like driving on most?
Graham Prior, New Zealand

If I had to do infinite testing, I would choose three tracks: Suzuka, Spa and Silverstone. If it was a race weekend, I would try to include Macau. The Macau F3 street track is very special.

If you could make any changes in F1, what changes would you make and why?
Tony Machi, USA

The main thing, compared to, say, the 1980s, is that the fans don't see F1 drivers as heroes anymore. So I would try to give that feeling back to the fans. People still talk about Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost as heroes, and we don't have those types of figures anymore.

Young people need heroes to look up to and they don't follow F1. We need to give the fans that feeling where they look up to us and admire what we do. To see that what we do behind the wheel is impossible and that only 22 of us can do it. Hopefully with the 2017 cars we can start this process.

Do you ever try to crack jokes when you're on the drivers' parade or do you have serious conversations?
Marcel Bieler, Germany

No, always joking. Back in my first year in F1 I was trying to speak with drivers to try to sneak some information about what was the ideal set-up, because I had no idea on the strategy or what choice of tyre they would make at the start. But not anymore, today it's jokes and... er...

F1R: Banter?

CS: Banter! That's the word I wanted to use.

Imagine it's the last laps of the final race of 2017, and you're just ahead of your childhood hero, Fernando Alonso. He's second in the championship, but if he passes you he'll win the title and your position won't be affected. Do you let him past or defend with all your might?
Anna Hunt, UK

Look, it is probably the worst question ever to answer... [sigh and long pause] but, when you drive in Formula 1, you see a McLaren behind and you don't see Fernando Alonso, the person. You see a McLaren that you're sweating your balls off to beat.

So on the last lap I am not just going to let him by, especially if I am in P3 and about to get the first podium of my career, or my first win or whatever.

So I wouldn't enjoy it as much, because I'd know Fernando would have been world champion for a third time and it's what I wish him for next year. A very hard question. I shouldn't have looked at this one.

What is your favourite film?
Henry Vickers, UK

It's Law Abiding Citizen with Gerard Butler.

When you have a crash like you did in Russia in 2015, what is it that makes you get back in the car?
Alex Dibden, UK

I love my job. Racing cars is a job I love more than anything, and so after a crash the best thing you can do is forget it. If you stay at home you'll keep it in your head. If you jump in an F1 car straightaway, the chances of you not crashing are 99.9%. The best recipe is to forget.

Carlos if you could drive a rally car from your dad's era, which would you choose?
Kevin Dalby, UK

I ask him a lot of questions about his career, and he tells me the more modern the car the better it is to drive.

I say I'd like to drive the 1990 Celica; he tells me it was good for its time, but then goes on about modern cars with the development of their suspension and how good they are.

So if I had the choice I'd drive the Celica, but I know he'd advise me to drive the Citroen he drove in 2005 at the end of his WRC career.