Carlos Sainz, who was replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, believes his successor has a "very high chance" of being competitive with the Italian team.
Speaking at Williams' launch event at Silverstone, where he will race this season, the Spanish driver expressed confidence in Ferrari's championship potential.
The comments come just weeks before Hamilton, 40, is set to make his highly anticipated Ferrari debut at the season opener in Melbourne on March 16.
Sainz, who spent three years alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, was clear about the team's potential for success.
Lewis Hamilton replaced Carlos Sainz at Ferrari
Reuters
"When I left, I did feel that both Ferrari and Charles were ready to fight for a world championship, and with Lewis joining that is only going to increase," he said at the Silverstone event.
The Spanish driver's assessment comes after Ferrari finished second in the constructors' championship last season with a highly competitive car.
Despite never having been teammates with Hamilton, Sainz offered a measured assessment of the seven-time world champion's prospects.
"I have never seen his data. I have seen Charles' data and I know how good he is. The only way you can evaluate a driver is when you are a team-mate," Sainz explained.
"But when I look at Lewis's results and his background, and what he has achieved, I can only say that there will be a very high chance that he is going to be competitive for Ferrari."
Hamilton will unveil his new Ferrari at Formula One's season launch at London's O2 Arena next Tuesday.
The 40-year-old will then head to Ferrari's Maranello headquarters the following day, where he is scheduled to address the media for the first time as a Ferrari driver.
The move to Ferrari is widely regarded as one of the biggest transfers in Formula One history, as Hamilton pursues a record eighth world title.
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Carlos Sainz was replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari
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Sainz will now partner Alex Albon at Williams, who finished ninth in last season's championship.
The London-born Albon welcomed the challenge of competing against his new teammate, who arrives after a strong final season with Ferrari.
"I am going up against someone who has got a big reputation, has just come from a very strong year, possibly his best in Formula One, so that is a great challenge to have," said Albon.
