F1: Nothing to clarify with Verstappen - Sainz

Carlos Sainz Jr. says there was "nothing to clarify" with Toro Rosso teammate Max Verstappen after their tense finish to the Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen found himself behind Sainz after losing time when he decided to pit before he was called in, and was vocal over team radio that he should have been given a chance to pass Sainz and challenge Renault's Jolyon Palmer.

Sainz found his own way past Palmer, with Verstappen following him through, only to later tag the rear of Sainz's STR11 and spin.

• Analysis: Verstappen is right to be upset - with himself

Sainz led the pair across the line in ninth and 10th, and said he felt there was no need to discuss the end of the race with Verstappen.

"The problem is, me with Max, what did I do wrong with him?" he said. "I have nothing really to clarify with him. It's more for him with the team, to see what the hell happened to him or his strategy, or to his pit stops.

"He hit me from behind. Luckily for both nothing happened, because then it would have been a bit different. It's not ideal to have someone say, 'I am much faster, let me by,' because it's not true. But at the end I cannot complain to him and he cannot complain to me, because it was more him with the team having a problem than with me."

Sainz said that Toro Rosso's stance on team orders was outlined to both drivers in January, that they were "free to fight and free to do whatever we want" when on the same tires and strategy. That position has been confirmed, rather than changed, following the Australian race.

"If we are not on the same strategy, if Max is coming behind with super-soft and I am on a medium, then it will be no point in fighting him," Sainz added. "We have both clarified what is expected from us, what we have to do in the upcoming races and it will be hopefully not an issue anymore.

"But as I said, I didn't have any issues with the team, last race, I didn't have any issues with Max, last race. I was just doing my race and it just happened Max was around and having some problems.

"Honestly, I have no problems with anyone and I think I followed every procedure of the race correctly."

Originally on Autosport.com