Verstappen and Sainz can be as successful as Vettel - Tost

Verstappen and Sainz both made their Formula 1 debuts with the Faenza-based team this year, and both earned plaudits for their performances despite the limitations of the machinery at their disposal.

Team principal Tost was particularly impressed with the rookie duo, and believes both could go on to have Grand Prix careers as illustrious as Vettel - who went on to win four successive titles after graduating from Toro Rosso to the senior Red Bull team.

“Everything has impressed me from them,” said Tost.

“The driving, the understanding of the car from the technical side, the cooperation with the engineers.

“But also the work with the media and marketing events and to get more and more used to all this - people like to work with them, and we are more than happy to have them in our team.

“Vettel, as well as Carlos and Max, they have the necessary patience and attitude and motivation and commitment to be in F1, and they are all hard workers.

“Between the races they do a lot of exercises in the physical side but also they go to the simulator, which means they are always well prepared coming to the races.”

Although Red Bull courted controversy by dropping Jean-Eric Vergne from the Toro Rosso line-up a year ago, Tost believes that Verstappen and Sainz have vindicated the Austrian drinks firm’s decision.

“I must say that Red Bull was absolutely right to choose these drivers,” Tost added, “because you can see that they learned from race to race.

“They have reached quite a good level, and therefore I'm convinced that they will have a successful future.”

Interview by Federico Faturos