Carlos Sainz says he has never felt inferior to any of the talented drivers that have been his teammates in Formula 1, having raced alongside the brightest young talents in the sport.
Sainz debuted his F1 career at Toro Rosso along with fellow rookie and future 15-time Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen.
But the Ferrari charger has also been paired with McLaren's Lando Norris, while he currently measures up at the Scuderia to Charles Leclerc.
All three young drivers are seen as outstanding talents and world champions in the making. But Sainz, who has outscored Leclerc so far this season, hasn't received the same degree of acclaim.
The Spaniard admits he doesn't understand why F1 fans have often perceived him as being in the shadow of his peers.
©Ferrari
"If you sign a Ferrari contract, you must have done something right in your career," Sainz told Auto Motor und Sport.
"I’ve always felt appreciated by all the teams, from Toro Rosso to Renault to McLaren, even when I left them. If the public think I’m in the shadows there, I wonder why?
"No matter who I’ve raced against so far, whether it’s Max, Nico [Hulkenberg], Lando or Charles, I’ve never felt I was slower than them or couldn’t do something they can do.
"I’ve beaten them all and always pushed them to the limit. I see that as an accolade. Max, Lando and Charles are among the top guys in the field, even by my own estimation."
As the cream of the crop among F1's young drivers, all three drivers represented solid benchmarks that provided Sainz with the impetus to improve his skills and confidence.
"I like the challenge of racing against them and they have made me a better driver," said the 26-year-old.
"That also gave me the confidence that I could take on anyone when I joined Ferrari. If I integrate properly in the team and set up the car properly, I don’t have to be afraid of anyone."
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