2
McLaren">McLaren's Carlos Sainz says he found it '"fun" to battle the front running teams during the opening lap of Sunday's Russian Grand Prix, but remembered that it was not ideal to fight cars clearly faster than the McLaren.
Sainz got as high as third on the opening lap after briefly out-dragging Lewis Hamilton to turn two, and ran in fourth position ahead of Valtteri Bottas for a handful of laps before being passed by the Finn under DRS in turn two.
"[It was a] very good start, which was fun to race the leaders into Turn 1," Sainz commented.
"I know with my good starts this season I would have a chance I just need to nail another good start and give myself a chance to fight with the Ferrari's and the Mercedes and that was exactly what happened. It was a nice way to start and a nice way to motivate yourself."
"For the whole race there was good pace, good management of the tyres and the whole strategy and we finished the best of the rest which is obviously what we wanted."
Despite running so high in the standings, Sainz also said of the importance of focusing on the team's own battles and not trying to battle faster cars as McLaren look to deny engine suppliers Renault to fourth position in this years constructor's championship.
Sainz eventually finished best of the rest in sixth, while teammate Lando Norris crossed the line in eight position.
"Unfortunately to be able to fight a Mercedes or a Red Bull I think we will need at least another half a second to make it worth it," Sainz added.
"Because at the moment you could lose one or two seconds of your race time and with such a fast car like Perez coming behind on the straights I didn't want to let him get DRS while battling with Albon because the Racing Point is very fast in a straight line."
"So there is still a bit to do there. If it was the last lap of the race then no doubt I would have been a lot more aggressive but today after a few tough races, it was worth it to get the points on the board."
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 (2)
Login to replyxoya
Posts: 583
It would be even better if he had closed the door on Hamilton when he had an opportunity to do so.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Sainz has been in great form all season long. McLaren--Mercedes can't come soon enough.