Sainz explains how his trainer left: 'Pretty sure Max is happy with him'

Carlos Sainz said goodbye to his personal trainer Rupert Manwaring this year, with whom he has worked for a long time. Max Verstappen, in turn, said goodbye to Bradley Scanes, after which Verstappen and Manwaring announced a new partnership. Sainz is at peace with that, saying that he and his trainer simply chose a different path.

Prior to his first laps at the Bahrain International Circuit in Ferrari's new SF-24, Sainz answered questions from the media present. 'His' trainer is now linked to Verstappen. He says that is no problem at all.

"We've been 8 years together," Sainz told GPblog and others. "We’ve had a great time together. It’s been a pleasure. We felt it was time to move on. Our lives were becoming different. He was living in the UK, and I’m living in Italy and Spain. It was time to change paths. I wish him the best, and I’m sure Max will enjoy it."

Sainz made his first appearance on the first day of the winter test in Bahrain on Wednesday afternoon. Like teammate Charles Leclerc, he was well off throughout the session, but at the time of writing, neither could match the times Verstappen recorded in Red Bull Racing's RB20.