Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has confirmed that Carlos Sainz is to remain with sister team Toro Rosso in 2017.

The Spaniard, who has impressed ever since making his F1 debut alongside Max Verstappen in 2015, is thought to have been on the shopping list of a couple of teams including Ferrari.

However, like most of the stars within the Red Bull stable, the company has sought to take up an option for a further year, thus keeping the Spaniard on board and out of the clutches of suitors.

"We took up his option earlier this week, so he is committed to Red Bull for an extra 12 months," said Horner, according to the official F1 website.

"As with all the drivers they are contracted to Red Bull Racing, and then we have the ability to place them where we want. He is currently at Toro Rosso, which is where he will be next year.

"We had until the end of the year to take up the option," he confirmed, "and we chose to do it early to put his mind at rest."

The Briton also appeared to end speculation over Daniil Kvyat's future, the Russian having been demoted from the main Red Bull team earlier this year in favour of Verstappen.

Asked if Sainz will have a new teammate in 2017, Horner said: "I'd be surprised. I think Dany is continuing his development, you can see he is finding his feet now, and there is not an obvious candidate knocking on the door at the moment that would warrant that seat.

"It's great for us to have a driver development programme that is producing talent like Ricciardo, like Verstappen, Carlos as well, and of course Dany Kvyat. We are not short of talent in our stable.

"It's a luxury issue really. We are set in RBR for the next two-and-a-half years."