Rosberg: Sainz is as good Max

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Nico Rosberg reckons that Carlos Sainz is as good as Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, but being in a slower car doesn't help him show it.

The German explained that when the young duo were paired up at Toro Rosso, the Spaniard matched the Dutchman in speed and driving style.

Before Verstappen left to Red Bull, Sainz was trailing him by nine-points on the Drivers' Championship, while in 2015, the 23-year-old accumulated 18-points and the teenager scored 49-points.

Rosberg, though, thinks Sainz is the 'Spanish hope' and an important prospect for the future.

"He is the Spanish hope, is very good, very strong, but the situation is difficult because the good car has been given to Verstappen," he told Spanish publication AS.

"But as I say Carlos is also very strong and against Verstappen did very well.

"His behavior was very similar … they are as good as one another and I am convinced that he will be one of the good drivers, one of the important ones in the future."