Sainz believes top team chance "a matter of time"

The Spaniard has been with Toro Rosso since the start of last season and, despite having been a good match to former teammate Max Verstappen, it was the Dutchman who got promoted to Red Bull Racing from the Spanish Grand Prix.

Sainz, however, insists that Red Bull is very happy with the job he is doing and is convinced that his time will come.

"I'm feeling positive, because there's been a good couple of races," said Sainz. "I feel a good tendency coming.

"Whenever I speak to Red Bull, they are very happy with me and I'm very happy with Toro Rosso and just a matter of time that an opportunity comes up to go to a top team.

"I keep saying this because I really believe so, that if I keep doing what I'm doing soon an opportunity will come."

Although the Toro Rosso driver's future is still uncertain, he suggested staying with the Faenza-based team would not be a bad option.

"It's not a bad place. I know Toro Rosso are doing things right for next year," he said.

"The Renault power unit looks like it could be quite close to the Ferrari one, so it all says we could have a decent package next year. It's still too early but it looks like we are going in the right direction."

Missed opportunities

Sainz was set for a podium finish in the previous race in Monaco before a pitstop delayed him and ruined his chances.

But despite another missed opportunity following a difficult start to the year, Sainz is feeling positive about the upcoming races.

"For me the first four races were very frustrating. Then suddenly in Barcelona nothing strange happened and I managed to score a very decent result. My strongest weekend in Formula 1 so far.

"Monaco was looking the same and a very small detail happened. But Barcelona and Monaco have been two positive races for me and that's why I'm confident that I can keep going like that."

He reckons the team, using the 2015 Ferrari engine, must seize its opportunities soon before their rivals' engines make more progress.

"I think before the summer we still have a couple of races there with Silverstone and Budapest that can play to our strengths. It's true that the best opportunity for me was in Monaco.

"Sorry to insist, but we lost a big, big chance of scoring a podium there with the bad pitstop, but we learned from it and all know that we lost a podium there. It's a bit pity, but now it's forgotten."

 Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble