Sainz, Bottas say F1's incoming talent will make races 'fun' in '19

The current top three in Formula 2 - George Russell, Alexander Albon and Lando Norris - are all likely to be on the F1 grid in 2019.

Russell and Norris have already secured places with Williams and McLaren respectively, while Albon is in line to join Toro Rosso.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso is exiting F1, at least temporarily, as is his current McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne, and Force India racer Esteban Ocon also looks set to be sidelined for 2019.

Norris's 2019 McLaren team-mate Sainz reckons the level of new talent coming into F1 at present is "incredible" and that all the rookies are very well-prepared.

"I think the quality of the grid will be as high as ever, first of all," Sainz told Autosport.

"The amount of talent that has arrived to Formula 1 nowadays is incredible, but especially how prepared nowadays rookies are.

"When I arrived to Formula 1 I felt ready. Since lap one in Australia I think I was P5 in practice one already, in Australia on a track that I didn't know.

"Nowadays, thanks to simulators, thanks to the tests, FP1s, that you can get, you arrive to Australia feeling pretty much ready for it.

"And then it's a matter of gaining experience. That is why I think the level in Formula 1 next year is going to be as high as ever.

"Lando, George, Max [Verstappen], Esteban hopefully if he manages to get a seat, myself, [Daniil] Kvyat back, you have a lot of talent. You will have fun watching the races."

Mercedes driver Bottas agreed with Sainz that the changeover for 2019 was healthy.

"The quality is good. I think there's still the best drivers in the world [in F1]," he told Autosport.

"And it is always nice to see young racers coming in and very keen to prove themselves in their rookie year."

He thinks F1 teams are becoming increasingly open to giving rookies changes in race seats.

"Many teams have seemed to give some proper opportunities for young drivers to prove themselves and many drivers have been able to take those opportunities," said Bottas.

"Maybe that has encouraged some other teams to do that as well, which I think is good.

"For sure that has changed a bit since I joined. But it's nice to see teams giving opportunities to young ones."

Bottas had his first F1 tests with Williams in 2011, the year he won the GP3 title, but then spent the following season out of racing as the team's reserve before it gave him a race seat for '13.