Nico Rosberg: Only Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen better than Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz

Rosberg: Only Hamilton and Verstappen better than Sainz

The Spaniard secured his first podium finish in Brazil.

Martin Macdonald

Tuesday 19 November 2019 16:00

Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg believes Carlos Sainz is currently the third-best driver in the sport behind only Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Sainz, and McLaren overall, have been impressive in 2019, with him securing his first ever top-three result at the Brazilian Grand Prix, even if it came after the fact following a time penalty issued to Hamilton which bumped the Spaniard up to third.

He is currently seventh in the drivers’ championship, on the same amount of points as Pierre Gasly in sixth, but Rosberg thinks he has been in the top three most impressive drivers this season - ahead of the likes of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

“Sainz is closing off an unbelievable season,” Rosberg said on his YouTube channel.

“I’ve always said he is in the top four of best drivers of the year together with Leclerc. So Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen and Hamilton.

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“At the moment I would maybe put Hamilton first, maybe him and Verstappen on a par after this race [in Brazil], maybe Hamilton slightly ahead.

“But Sainz is now third, just in front of Leclerc.

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“He’s just done an unbelievable season, so many points in that McLaren, so great. He’s done an absolutely fantastic job.”

Alongside Lando Norris, Sainz has been confirmed to feature again for McLaren in the 2020 campaign.

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