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World Champion Lewis Hamilton has backed Toro Rosso drivers Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz Jr., following Red Bull's decision to promote Max Verstappen.
Kvyat has been demoted to Toro Rosso at the expense of Verstappen, and Hamilton reckons Red Bull needs to be careful with how it treats its young drivers.
"There's two fantastic drivers here," Hamilton said while sat behind Kvyat and Sainz Jr. during the pre-event press conference in Spain.
"I just hope in this manoeuvre it doesn’t hinder their careers as they’ve got bright futures ahead of them; too much expectation early on can lead them away.
"I think ultimately it’s a good opportunity for one, and for the other it’s unfortunate, Red Bull has done well in bringing young talent forwards, but I think they need to be aware that young drivers need time to progress, mistakes do happen.
"So much pressure on drivers at a young age, especially when you’ve not done a lot of years in lower classes, there’s so much to learn, a lot of pressure on young shoulders.
"To take a driver out of a role in a team he’s comfortable and move to another one it’s a difficult position to be in, Do I agree with it? It doesn’t matter, but it’s not something I would do."
