Sainz says Toro Rosso F1 team-mate Verstappen likes 'bad boy' role
Carlos Sainz Jr says Toro Rosso Formula 1 team-mate Max Verstappen enjoys playing a 'bad boy' role following the 17-year-old's refusal to obey team orders in the Singapore Grand Prix

Verstappen was told twice to yield in the closing stages last weekend to allow Sainz, who was on fresher tyres, an opportunity to attack Force India's Sergio Perez for seventh, but the Dutchman chose not to.
After the race, Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost backed Verstappen's stance, while the rookie said his father Jos would have "kicked me in the nuts" if he had given up the place.
Sainz cited two instances where he had obeyed team orders this season and has no plans to stop being a team player despite Verstappen's actions.
"My approach will not change," said Sainz ahead of this weekend's Japanese GP. "I know more what Max is about.
"He likes to play a bit more of maybe a 'bad boy' role and I kind of knew this, but now he has demonstrated it.
"Towards the team [my approach] is not going to change. If they call something I will trust them. I'm a team player.
"I think I behaved, when I need to be selfish I will be, but so far I've not had the opportunity or situation to show selfishness because I trust them and every time they've called for swaps I've done it.
"Malaysia in the last stint when Max overtook me, it was not an overtake.
"I let him by and everyone on the news was like 'oh what a great move' and I was like 'please, I let him by'.
"Then in Monaco, when he was behind Seb [Vettel] and I moved out after the Rascasse and he went through, it was because he was on the super-soft."
Sainz said Verstappen did not let him by because he was unaware the Spaniard would give the place back if the attempt at the pass was unsuccessful, but feels his team-mate should have known that was the plan.
"As far as I know, he didn't let me by because he didn't know I was going to let him by at the end of the race," he said.
"I have come to an understanding [of how Verstappen was thinking] and maybe if you're not completely sure you don't do it.
"But we've had these discussions already in Monaco. He should know.
"I would say I would have done it because I knew the conclusions we had come to after Monaco.
"Everything's OK, it has all been discussed and clarified.
"I had no problem with anyone, I think it was more the team and Max who had to clarify things between them."
Verstappen confirmed Toro Rosso had clarified its procedures.
"I think the one thing we needed was to be a bit more clear on the radio," he said. "We spoke about it and hopefully it will not happen again.
"Nothing has changed in our relationship."

Daniel Ricciardo gets Red Bull F1 chiefs' reassurance over 2016
Pirelli responds to speculation over F1 tyres after Singapore GP

Latest news
Video: Follow Red Bull's 2023 F1 launch live from New York
The Red Bull Formula 1 team is launching its 2023 season live from New York, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez presenting the new livery for the upcoming campaign.
Why Ford can offer Red Bull what Porsche could not in F1
With Ford's confirmation of a partnership with Red Bull Powertrains imminent, it gives the Milton Keynes squad more pulling power in the American market. It's one of the key aspects the Detroit marque can offer which Porsche, expected to tie up with Red Bull before the deal fell through, could not
Ford confirms Formula 1 return for 2026
American car giant Ford has officially confirmed its return to Formula 1 in 2026, ahead of Red Bull's car launch in New York.
The design changes teams face as F1 launch season begins
Formula 1 fans are eagerly waiting to see how much of the Red Bull RB19 being unveiled in New York City later on Friday is actually new.
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Many doubted Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season. But the journey he’s been on since has taken the Briton to new heights - and to a further six world championship titles
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
OPINION: With teams outside the top three having struggled in Formula 1 in recent seasons, the rules changes introduced in 2022 should have more of an impact this season. How well Haas does, as the poster child for the kind of team that F1 wanted to be able to challenge at the front, is crucial
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
How do the best races of F1 2022 stack up to 2021?
OPINION: A system to score all the grands prix from the past two seasons produces some interesting results and sets a standard that 2023 should surely exceed
Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who was the fastest driver in 2022? Everyone has an opinion, but what does the stopwatch say? Obviously, differing car performance has an effect on ultimate laptime – but it’s the relative speed of each car/driver package that’s fascinating and enlightening says ALEX KALINAUCKAS
Why F1's nearly man is refreshed and ready for his return
He has more starts without a podium than anyone else in Formula 1 world championship history, but Nico Hulkenberg is back for one more shot with Haas. After spending three years on the sidelines, the revitalised German is aiming to prove to his new team what the F1 grid has been missing
The potential-laden F1 car that Ferrari neglected
The late Mauro Forghieri played a key role in Ferrari’s mid-1960s turnaround, says STUART CODLING, and his pretty, intricate 1512 was among the most evocative cars of the 1.5-litre era. But a victim of priorities as Formula 1 was deemed less lucrative than success in sportscars, its true potential was never seen in period
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.