Sainz sure rivals are faster than McLaren

  • Published on 28 Feb 2019 09:06
  • comments 1
  • By: Coilin Higgins

McLaren driver Carlos Sainz believes that the team's rivals have a lot more pace to show despite setting the fastest time overall during Wednesday's test, setting a time of 1:17.144. The time was also the fastest set so far in testing this season.

Sainz joins McLaren after departing Renault last season, joining rookie Lando Norris. The team, now in their second season using power units supplied by Renault, are sure the MCL34 is a significant step forward, but there is still work to be done in order to challenge the top teams.

"A 17.1 around Barcelona is fast but I guess teams like Red Bull, Ferrari can go much faster than that,” Sainz said. "The important stuff to come out of this seven or eight days I think that every time I’ve been on the track I think the car has been progressing. The car balance has got better over the last few days and it’s allowing us to extract a bit more from it."

Having raced with the Renault team since late 2017, Sainz is cautious about how much of a step the supplier has been able to make with the 2019-spec unit, but is aware that there is a long season ahead where a lot of improvements can be made.

“It feels like a good step,” he added. “That’s the only thing I can say because until anyone turns up the engines in Australia and we see the top speeds it’s going to be very difficult to find out how good the step is, or if the others have done a step as big as we have done.”

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • I agree, and them looking good now will put unnecessary pressure on McLaren, but it is what it is.

    • + 0
    • Feb 28 2019 - 09:40

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 11:37

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 11:37

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Williams
  • Points 1,289
  • Podiums 27
  • Grand Prix 220
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Sep 1 1994 (30)
  • Place of b. Madrid, ES
  • Weight 66 kg
  • Length 1.78 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar