Sainz plays down favouritism 'controversy'

Jul.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has played down his anger with Toro Rosso, after making comments suggesting the team may be favouring Max Verstappen.

The Spanish rookie admitted he was "angry" with the Red Bull junior team after Hungary, as Verstappen was called in first for pitstop service even though it was Sainz who was ahead on track.

"It has not been explained to me why they didn't stop me first," he said in Spanish media reports. "Imagine the anger that I have.

"I stopped later than the others, Max did 'the undercut' and passed me in the pits. That's what I cannot understand."

But Sainz subsequently told the Spanish sports daily Marca that, after he sat down with the engineers, he calmed down.

"They wanted us both to pass the Williams and that seemed like the best way," he said.

"I do not want a controversy, I just do my best and hope to get a good result in the next races for Toro Rosso," Sainz added.

Verstappen, the youngest driver in F1 history, finished the Hungarian grand prix fourth with a performance described as "fantastic" by team boss Franz Tost.

Sainz retired with a technical failure.