Squabble could be even more intense, says Martin Brundle
Monday 21 March 2016 14:13, UK
The rivalry between Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen has the potential to become more intense than that of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, says Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle.
Sainz and Verstappen eventually finished the Australian GP in ninth and 10th respectively but the teenager was furious with both Toro Rosso and his team-mate at Albert Park.
Verstappen, last season's Rookie of the Year, felt he was held up by Sainz on several occasions - most notably behind Jolyon Palmer in the Renault.
Both youngsters have been tipped as future superstars and, as Rosberg and Hamilton have proved during their time at Mercedes, a spiky relationship off the track makes for compelling viewing.
"The squabble between these two emerging stars in Formula 1 is going to be like Hamilton and Rosberg - but probably even more intense," noted Brundle during commentary on Sunday.
Verstappen, fifth on the grid, started the grand prix strongly, keeping Hamilton at bay during his first stint. But strategy calls as well as a slow pitstop halted his progress, and the real fireworks came over team radio during his pursuit of Sainz and Palmer in the battle for ninth.
"Can I try to get past?" he said in one of many expletive-laden outbursts. "Let me drive, this takes too long.
"Come on, we have to do something! It's a joke."
While Sainz was told to "push" by Toro Rosso, Verstappen believes his team should have done more to help him secure many more points in Melbourne. The Dutchman was also angered by delays from his pit crew; after Sainz was called in first, the tyres were not ready for Verstappen upon his second stop.
He urged his team to learn lessons from Sunday's race, but also said he doesn't care what they choose to do regarding place-swapping with his Spanish team-mate in the future.
"Normally I should be miles ahead," Verstappen said, as reported by Motorsport. "It should be fine.
"I knew I was much faster today. I'm not worried that the pace is not there. We just had a bad pitstop and then when you come out you are behind.
"To be honest for me it's fine. I feel I have everything under control. I don't feel the pressure of him. I'm focussing ahead, that's my competition."
Sainz, meanwhile, insists he doesn't have an issue with the 18-year-old but that he did not miss any overtaking moves during the race.
"I overtook eight or ten cars today on a track," he said.
Sky F1's Damon Hill also claimed Verstappen's complaining was misguided, adding: "That was the first sign of immaturity we've seen from Max."
Don't miss the F1 Report for all the reaction and analysis from the Australian GP. Natalie Pinkham is joined by David Brabham and former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley on Wednesday at 8:30pm on Sky Sports F1.
