Carlos Sainz claims Verstappen has Red Bull clause limiting media duties

Sainz points to Verstappen’s contract freedom

Carlos Sainz has suggested that Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Formula 1 contract contains a specific clause limiting the Dutchman’s media and marketing obligations, giving him a level of freedom that other drivers do not enjoy.

Sainz’s remarks add a different angle: not just how long Verstappen may remain tied to Red Bull, but how his day-to-day commitments may differ from the rest of the grid.

The modern F1 calendar leaves little room

Sainz’s answer was blunt. In his view, the modern Formula 1 workload makes that kind of additional racing almost impossible for most drivers.

“I think that in a 24-race championship, with all the marketing and interviews we do, that’s impossible. No driver could manage it,” Sainz said.

He then singled out Verstappen as the exception.

“Well… Max would be the only one, because he’s the only one who doesn’t do marketing or interviews. He has it written into his contracts, he can afford to do so, and Red Bull accepts it.”

A rare claim about a rival’s deal

Drivers seldom discuss the precise terms of their own contracts, and it is rarer still for one competitor to make claims about another driver’s agreement. That makes Sainz’s comments notable, particularly because they frame Verstappen’s position as unique within the current F1 environment.

For Sainz, the conclusion is straightforward: while Verstappen may have the contractual space to avoid some off-track demands, others do not.

“As for the rest of us, we simply don’t have the time or the free capacity to put our energy into a race like that,” he said.

In a championship stretched across 24 races, Sainz’s point is less about nostalgia and more about capacity. For most drivers, the race weekends are only one part of the job.