Daniil Kvyat has said that he feels ready to fight for the world championship.
The Red Bull driver's former team boss, Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost, reportedly said recently that the 21-year-old Russian is now good enough to win a title.
"I thank Franz for these words," Kvyat told Russian news agency R-Sport.
"I spent a very good year with him together at Toro Rosso and we have a good relationship.
"Under certain circumstances and under the right conditions, I am ready at any moment to fight for the title. For me it's not a problem."
That is despite the fact the Red Bull-backed quartet in F1 - Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz - are on notice by Dr Helmut Marko to perform in 2016 or risk being ousted.
At the same time, the energy drink company's premier team, Red Bull Racing, is playing down its chances for 2016, although Kvyat is confident.
"We have taken a step forward with the engine and the chassis, and I think we will be able to compete with the leaders at more races," he said.
"Last season, only the slow tracks like Monaco, Hungary and Singapore were comfortable for us, but I think that will change now."
Kvyat, who raced to second place on the podium in Hungary last year, added that he is not ruling out his maiden win in 2016.
