Carlos Sainz is as good as Max Verstappen and deserves a "good car".
That is the view of 2016 championship favourite Nico Rosberg, who was asked about the burgeoning career of Toro Rosso’s 22-year-old driver by the Spanish sports daily AS.
It is reported that Sainz was blocked from switching to Renault on a three-year deal from 2017 by his employer Red Bull.
Mercedes’ Rosberg said he, like Renault, also rates the Spaniard highly.
"He is very good, very strong, but the situation is difficult for him because he was not given the good car to drive like Verstappen was," he said.
"But when they were together Sainz did very well and they were very similar. I think they are as good as one another and I am convinced that he (Sainz) will also be one of the good drivers of the future," Rosberg added.