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Following Nico Rosberg's shock retirement announcement after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, various names were touted as capable replacements for him. Among these was Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz, in whom Renault showed an interest before Red Bull blocked any possibility of that move too.
In addition, it now seems that his boss Franz Tost was never worried about losing Sainz to the Silver Arrows - for one very simple reason.
"Ha, I was not worried because he has a Red Bull contract," he told the official F1 website. "Do I think he would be good enough to survive alongside Hamilton? Yes. Carlos is a very skilled driver who on a couple of occasions was faster than Max (Verstappen). Carlos has a very high natural speed. He will shine if we are able to give him the right car."
Tost has a unique insight into the careers of young drivers thanks to Red Bull's reputation for nurturing new talent, including Sainz. However, hen asked whether Lance Stroll, Stoffel Vandoorne or Esteban Ocon would come out on top in their first full F1 season, he was somewhat indecisive - instead declaring the capability of all three.
"Vandoorne and Ocon are very highly skilled drivers. And Lance did a great job in Formula Three. I would say that all three deserve to be in F1."
With regards to his own drivers - Sainz and Daniil Kvyat - Tost was seemingly very clear on where he hopes they will be in 2017: "I want them to compete well," he stated. "And it is up to us to make it happen because Carlos and Daniil have huge potential."
Mason Hawker
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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