Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso says fellow-Spaniard Carlos Sainz junior will be in F1 ‘sooner or later’ despite the setback of Toro Rosso opting for Dutch teen Max Verstappen next season.

Sainz had been seen as a leading candidate for the Toro Rosso race seat until the Red Bull-owned team announced last week that they had signed 16-year-old Verstappen.

The 19-year-old Spaniard tested for both Red Bull and Toro Rosso last year and is currently leading the Formula Renault 3.5 series.

With Verstappen teaming up with 19-year-old Russian Daniil Kvyat, Sainz’s hopes of progressing into Formula One with Red Bull seemed to have faded and he has most recently been linked with Caterham.

That team gave German triple Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer his debut in Belgium.

Spaniard Roberto Merhi is also seen as a contender for a race opportunity there.

Alonso suggested the son of two times world rally champion Carlos senior would find a way.

“I was thinking and many people thought that he could be in Toro Rosso next year. But he will arrive in Formula One sooner or later,” the double world champion said.

“He has the talent, he has the mentality, the right approach and he’s 19.”