Verstappen names Sainz the ideal candidate to replace Vettel

Max Verstappen has tipped Carlos Sainz to succeed Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari.

Speaking on a live Q&A session on Instagram, Verstappen quipped that he was not in the running for the Ferrari seat.

“The speculation was going on a bit, is he going to continue with Ferrari or not – well today it’s out, he’s not,” said Verstappen. “I guess also very soon we’ll find out who the replacement is going to be.

“It’s definitely not me, I can tell you. I’m at Red Bull. I saw some questions coming along if I was going to Ferrari, but I’m not.

“It is what it is. Somebody else gets an opportunity to drive now for Ferrari, and of course it’s a great team, and I’m sure they will make the right decision about the next driver. Let’s see what’s going to happen there.”

GPFans understands that Sainz could be unveiled as the new team-mate for Charles Leclerc within days.

When asked by David Coulthard whether it would be the "Italian sounding name", Daniel Ricciardo, or the "Spanish sounding name", Sainz, Verstappen gave his former Toro Rosso team-mate the vote of confidence.

Verstappen added, “I think it’s not going to be the Italian sounding name. Let’s see. At the end of the day, it’s just a guess. We’ll have to wait and see.”

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