Toro Rosso star Carlos Sainz Jr says he is ready to step up to senior team Red Bull if called on after enjoying a positive start to the 2017 campaign.

The Spaniard made his debut for Toro Rosso at the start of the 2015 season and he has proven his quality with consistent performances over the course of two full campaigns.

Sainz jr has continued to catch the eye in the opening six events of 2017, having finished in the points on five occasions but he was forced to retire in Bahrain.

The 22-year-old’s most recent outing in Monaco saw him hold off a challenge from title contender Lewis Hamilton, who is priced at 2.25 to lift the Drivers’ Championship, to finish ahead of the Mercedes driver in sixth.

The Toro Rosso man currently sits eighth in the Drivers’ Championship and 20 points shy of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while Daniel Ricciardo is 27 points better off.

The 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion insists he is ready to step up to the senior team of Red Bull when called upon but that looks unlikely to be anytime soon with Verstappen and Ricciardo both contracted until 2018.

Sainz jr said: “I will keep doing what I’m doing and we’ll see what happens.

“I need to keep performing for myself and to show Red Bull and everyone there that I am a fast guy and that one day they can count on me. “Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.”