1
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.”
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
38,070 comments on Ferrari
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Carlos Sainz jr
270,241 comments on McLaren 155 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about McLaren
Replies (1)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I agree, and them looking good now will put unnecessary pressure on McLaren, but it is what it is.