Helmut Marko has explained the decision to let Carlos Sainz leave the Red Bull driver program after 2018.
The Spaniard has been one of Formula 1’s strongest performers in recent years, scoring four podiums whether it be at McLaren or since joining Ferrari at the start of this season.
Before then Sainz had struggled to really show his potential in F1 whether it be at Toro Rosso or at Renault.
Even so, the Red Bull chief hasn’t been surprised by his subsequent success.
“We didn’t send Sainz away and for good reason, we were very early to contract him,” Marko told German outlet Formel1.de.
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“[Max] Verstappen and Sainz were very evenly matched, but we didn’t have the possibility to offer him [Sainz] more [than a seat at Toro Rosso].
“He was not convinced of the future prospects at Toro Rosso and his feeling was he was not progressing and he did not want to wait any longer.
“We first loaned him out and then we cancelled the contract completely.
“After all, we didn’t want to stand in the way of his future.”
Sainz was linked to a possible promotion to Red Bull after Daniel Ricciardo opted to join Renault in 2019 only for Pierre Gasly to be chosen instead.
But while the second-generation driver has impressed since, Marko isn’t too bothered about not seeing him still in Red Bull colours.
“At the time we were very strong, but in Max, we saw the very strongest driver,” he said.
“That’s why we chose Verstappen at the time [in 2016] and I think the results Verstappen has shown since then more than justify that decision.”