Toro Rosso: With a Mercedes engine we would be at the front

Rookie Max Verstappen agrees with Toro Rosso designer James Key that the STR10 is one of the very best cars on the grid this season.

Key declared recently: "With a Mercedes engine we would be at the front."

And it is not only those in the Faenza based camp who are saying it, as Force India's Sergio Perez agrees, "Toro Rosso have a great car."

Team driver Verstappen admits: "I would say we are in third place behind Mercedes [and Ferrari]."

Actually, Toro Rosso is a lowly eighth in the current constructors' standings, as the 17-year-old teen and his equally impressive teammate Carlos Sainz struggle with unreliable and uncompetitive Renault power.

But Spaniard Sainz said: "We use GPS at every race and can see that with a decent engine, we would be fighting with Williams and sometimes also Ferrari. That's why I always praise the team. For a small team to produce a car like that is really impressive."

As for the obvious comparison with 'big brother' team Red Bull, Verstappen said: "Maybe they have more people at Milton Keynes, and they are better at setting up the car than us, but in general I think our car is almost as good as theirs."

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo confirmed: "When I follow the Toro Rosso, the handling looks really good. They have done a great job. It looks as though James Key is really established in the team now after a few years. He has designed a really good car."

But the Australian denied that Red Bull has suffered a decline due to its own designer, Adrian Newey, having stepped into the background.

"I'm not at the factory every day," said Ricciardo, "but when I am there, he is always in his office in the morning. I am sure he is doing what he can to bring us back to the front."

Verstappen and Sainz ended the first free practice session, of the British Grand Prix weekend, third and fifth - only beaten by the Mercedes drivers but in with the Ferrari duo.