Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg believes Carlos Sainz is currently the third-best driver in the sport behind only Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Sainz, and McLaren overall, have been impressive in 2019, with him securing his first ever top-three result at the Brazilian Grand Prix, even if it came after the fact following a time penalty issued to Hamilton which bumped the Spaniard up to third.
He is currently seventh in the drivers’ championship, on the same amount of points as Pierre Gasly in sixth, but Rosberg thinks he has been in the top three most impressive drivers this season - ahead of the likes of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.
“Sainz is closing off an unbelievable season,” Rosberg said on his YouTube channel.
“I’ve always said he is in the top four of best drivers of the year together with Leclerc. So Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen and Hamilton.