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Sainz: Brazil to bring Renault back to reality

Sainz: Brazil to bring Renault "back to reality"

10-11-2018 11:05

Following two impressive weekends for Renault, Carlos Sainz believes the Brazilian Grand Prix will bring the French team "back to reality". Renault scored 22 points in the past two races making them almost guaranteed to finish 4th.

In Mexico, Renault finished ahead of both Mercedes and Ferrari in Friday practice. Having enjoyed this, both Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg finished outside the top 10 in both sessions yesterday.

"It's a bit back to reality for us. When I was saying this could be a more challenging track I was not too wrong, we see the lap times today," Sainz told motorsport.

“I think we can be closer than what we were today. We get a bit back to our baselines and normal set-ups and definitely make a better job than today.”

With no aerodynamic package upgrade, the Renault engineers decided to do some "experimental" mechanical work. Sainz said his car didn't feel any different but was clearly slower.

“My feeling with the car is pretty much the same as in Austin and Mexico but then you see the lap time and it’s not that good. It’s as simple as this track doesn’t suit us as much as the other two," Sainz added.

“We know our car prefers short, slow, sharp corners like in Mexico. Long, sweeping corners like we have here are just not enjoyable in our car with the aero we have."