Pato O’Ward Secures Toronto Victory as Carlos Sainz Reflects on Red Bull Snub
Pato O’Ward delivered a standout performance in Toronto, capturing his second IndyCar victory of the season for Arrow McLaren. The Canadian street race highlighted O’Ward’s ability to capitalize on strategy and racecraft, adding to his growing status as one of the championship’s top contenders.
Meanwhile, headlines in the Formula 1 paddock were dominated by comments from Carlos Sainz on his high-profile omission from the Red Bull lineup for the 2024 season. Sainz, who knew early on that Ferrari would be bringing in Lewis Hamilton as his replacement, was widely considered a contender to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull as the team considered changes following Sergio Perez’s struggles.
Red Bull ultimately chose not to sign Sainz, cycling instead through Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda for the coveted second seat alongside Verstappen. Lawson’s stint lasted only two races before Tsunoda took over, but the pairing continued to face challenges, reinforcing the difficulty of partnering with a dominant lead driver like Max Verstappen.
Sainz addressed the situation in a recent interview, expressing confusion over Red Bull’s decision. While speculation pointed to concerns over the dynamic between their respective families—Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Sr.—from their shared rookie season at Toro Rosso in 2015, Sainz himself emphasized the “healthy rivalry” they maintained during that time and noted his strong current relationship with Verstappen.
“Like, we had a rivalry on our first year in Formula 1 in Toro Rosso, but it was a relatively healthy rivalry in terms of him and me, the way we used to go about racing. And now we get on really well,” Sainz said. “If that’s the reason, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t want me next to Max, because I think we would actually be a very strong pairing in Formula 1.”
Insiders revealed that Red Bull’s greater concern was the possible tension between the drivers' fathers rather than any issue between the drivers themselves. In the end, Sainz signed with Williams for 2025, but he still believes he would have succeeded in the Red Bull environment.
Reflecting on his career, Sainz expressed pride in holding his own against top talents like Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Nico Hülkenberg, and his current teammate Alex Albon. “It just makes me want to be up against the best still. I know I can take it, and I know I’ve been successful in the past. I think everyone’s having a really tough time being Max’s team-mate. I can only say that when I was Max’s team-mate, I didn’t have this tough time.”
Sainz praised Verstappen’s extraordinary talent, acknowledging that their time as teammates built his confidence and helped shape the competitive edge he still looks to prove on the Formula 1 grid.
As Sainz moves forward with Williams, the Red Bull seat drama serves as a reminder of the intense dynamics, both personal and professional, that shape the careers of the world’s top racing drivers. While Toronto celebrated Pato O’Ward’s decisive victory in North America, the F1 world continues to buzz over team choices, rivalries, and the search for the perfect teammate to challenge the very best.