Spaniard eager to follow in Verstappen's footsteps
Friday 27 May 2016 10:42, UK
Toro Rosso youngster Carlos Sainz claims he is ready to follow Max Verstappen in making the jump to the senior team.
Though both impressed in their rookie F1 season last year, it was Verstappen who stole the plaudits and subsequently got bumped up to Red Bull to replace Daniil Kvyat in 2016.
The teenager duly won his first ever race in the RB12 but Sainz, who also shone at the Spanish GP in finishing sixth, says he would be prepared should Red Bull wish to promote him as well.
Asked if he was ready for a front-running team, the Spaniard told Sky Sports News HQ: "I definitely think so.
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"I am here for Red Bull whenever they need me to jump in the top team. I am fully ready. I always say the same that [being] ready is not a problem.
"My performance in the Spanish GP was good, but it was the same as in all the other grands prix. It's just nothing strange happened to me and finally I managed to pick up a strong result.
"But, honestly, I did nothing different to any other grand prix, I just had a bit more luck. So very happy, very pleased with that and hopefully this is a bit of a start from zero for me this season and we can keep scoring some results from now on."
Sainz has scored 12 points this season while Toro Rosso are lying fifth in the constructors' standings, though they may struggle with a lack of upgrades to their 2015-spec Ferrari engine later on in the campaign.
The STR11 looked to be strong in practice at the Monaco GP, however, with Kvyat and Sainz respectively finishing sixth and 10th in P1, and fifth and sixth in P2.
"On a Thursday in Monaco, you have many drivers who maybe sandbag three tenths because they don't want to risk it all out," Sainz added.
Red Bull speed in Monaco "unbelievable"
"You have teams like Ferrari that maybe haven't got it right for a Thursday. You have traffic for your push laps when 22 cars are out on track.
"But we are bit better than expected, maybe."
Watch the Monaco GP live on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway at 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV.
