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Rookie duo admit Alonso best driver in F1

When it comes to two crucial questions about F1, Toro Rosso's all-rookie lineup is unanimous.

Fernando Alonso, McLaren Honda

Fernando Alonso, McLaren Honda

McLaren

Carlos Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso
Carlos Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso
Max Verstappen, Scuderia Toro Rosso
Helmut Marko and Carlos Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso
Max Verstappen, Scuderia Toro Rosso Test Driver
Max Verstappen, Scuderia Toro Rosso Test Driver

When asked to name the best current driver on the grid, Max Verstappen answered: "Alonso."

And his 2015 teammate, another Grand Prix debutant and a Spaniard, Carlos Sainz jr, agreed: "Fernando, of course."

When you are offered the chance to drive in F1, no matter your age, you must accept it.

Max Verstappen

But their answer, whilst also in agreement, was very different when it came to the matter of the likely winner of the 2015 world championship.

Dutchman Verstappen is quoted by the Spanish daily AS: "(Lewis) Hamilton. The (Mercedes) car he has is amazing."

Sainz agreed: "Hamilton, yes."

For his part, 17-year-old Verstappen's looming debut has been highly controversial, as he is just a year out of karts and not even the holder of a full road car driving licence.

But he insisted: "When you are offered the chance to drive in F1, no matter your age, you must accept it.

"It could be a long time before you get another," Verstappen added.

New car, new year, new drivers

Their 2015 machine, the STR10, will be launched next Saturday, the day before the start of official testing at Jerez.

"It is impossible to set goals," 20-year-old Sainz said at an event for sponsor Cepsa, "without having even tested the car.

"But I think both Toro Rosso and I want to be in the points and hopefully we can be fighting for the top ten, but the truth is that I don't know where we will be," the reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion added.

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