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Did Verstappen influence teammate decision?

18:05, 20 Dec 2018

byBevan Youl

Max Verstappen has said he had some influence on Red Bull’s decision for their driver selection for 2019.

Red Bull had to replace Daniel Ricciardo’s position after he made the decision to leave the team, in favour of moving to Renault.

According to paddock source the Dutchman was more in favour of having Pierre Gasly as a teammate over Carlos Sainz. The two had a row when together at Toro Rosso in 2016, before Verstappen moved up to the Red Bull senior team.

Sainz, now moved to McLaren, denied the rumours of Verstappen blocking a move. But his recent comments say differently.

Talking to Formule 1, Verstappen said “In the end, it’s not about me saying yes or no. That’s not my decision,” (grandpx.news).

“But I clearly told them what will work and what will not work. I am not going to mention names, but I am glad that Pierre Gasly is coming. He is very fast, but I am afraid of no one. I fear no one.”

When speaking about Ricciardo’s move to Renault, Verstappen had said: “He had already committed to Dietrich Mateschitz, the big boss of Red Bull, so I didn’t understand that.”

“Nobody in the team understands it. But I never talked to him about it – it’s not my problem.”