Not just Sainz in running for Kvyat seat

(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr is not the only candidate to replace the Red Bull-bound Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso next year.

Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko have already admitted the talented Spaniard, the current cream of Red Bull's famed young driver program, is the frontrunner for the newly-vacant seat in the wake of Sebastian Vettel's shock news.

But there may be other frontrunners too.

Marko told Austria's Servus TV that it is minimally "a very safe prediction" that Red Bull will appoint Kvyat's successor from the Red Bull talent pool.

The obvious candidates are Sainz, 18-year-old Frenchman Pierre Gasly and 21-year-old GP3 championship leader Alex Lynn.

Lynn said at the weekend: "I'll certainly be doing everything I can to be the one who gets promoted."

But Marko suggested he will wait some time before making the final call, because "There are championships still open".

"After that we will sit down together and see that we take the best possible decision," he said.