Hamilton Mercedes dominance "impossible" to judge - Sainz

New Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz believes it is "impossible to know" if other drivers could match Lewis Hamilton's talent due to the disparity of machinery in Formula 1.

The Spaniard, who will drive for Ferrari this season, had been outspoken throughout last season with regards to how little influence driving talent had over results.

Whilst praising Hamilton for his exploits at Mercedes, Sainz suggested it was impossible to know definitively if the Briton was the best in the sport.

“I think Lewis is the best driver on the grid," he explained. "I think he’s one of the most talented in history.

"But it is impossible to know because there are only two Mercedes out there to drive, and that is my point.

"It is unfortunate at the moment the sport is so team and machine-driven while there is so much talent on the grid right now.

"All drivers could be within three-tenths of each other in a qualifying lap and then we are fighting for two seconds from the beginning to the end of the grid.”

Sainz will have just a day-and-a-half in his new Ferrari in pre-season testing ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in March.

The former McLaren driver, however, is not concerned about getting up to speed at his new home but acknowledged that the difference being good and great in a car is where he believes Hamilton has the edge over the grid.

"It’s not too difficult as a Formula 1 driver to be quick with a car you don’t know," he added.

"What is difficult is to extract the last tenth, the last two-tenths of the car and I think that is what Lewis is particularly good at."

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