In 2016, Carlos Sainz shared a seat with Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso, showing very similar performance. However, Helmut Marko decided to promote the Dutchman to the main team, leaving Sainz out of the promotion. That choice marked the beginning of the path that led Verstappen to four world titles, while Sainz sought his place in other teams.
The differentiating factor in technical decision-making 🏎️
Marko based his choice on criteria of development and adaptation to the car. Verstappen showed a natural ability to extract performance from the car under extreme conditions, something that Sainz did not match at the time. The decision was not just about pure talent, but about how each driver integrated into the team's technical structure. Red Bull prioritized who they saw as a long-term asset for their driver development program.
Marko's masterstroke or the lottery of fate 🎲
Sometimes, a decision in an office defines entire careers. While Verstappen accumulated titles, Sainz watched from the outside wondering if that was a casting for a Netflix series or a technical decision. The funny thing is that today, Sainz remains a solid driver, but without the same track record. Perhaps Marko should sell his crystal ball or at least rent it out to those choosing drivers in F1.