Sainz expecting better teammate relationship at McLaren

Carlos Sainz says he is expecting a better experience with his new teammate Lando Norris than what he had at Toro Rosso. The Red Bull junior team is notoriously cut-throat when it comes to its drivers, something Sainz experienced first hand.

The Spaniard was put head-to-head with Red Bull's next big project in Max Verstappen in 2015, a relationship which quickly turned sour within the Toro Rosso team with the prospect of a promotion to Red Bull a likely reward for the better of the two.

Verstappen however was Red Bull's obvious choice, his age and potential paired with interest from rival teams meant it was the Dutchman and not Sainz who was on the fast track to the top team.

Sainz predicts a more harmonious relationship with his rookie teammate Norris in 2019. The British driver is highly rated by McLaren after an impressive season in Formula 2, finishing second to Mercedes junior driver George Russell.

“Compared to Toro Rosso, for sure. I'm expecting to have a very similar situation as with Nico (Hulkenberg) at Renault.

“Obviously Nico was (at Renault) for a year before me, and arriving to McLaren, me probably with a lot more experience and with Lando in the same year, we are both starting from scratch. I think that will allow us to start fresh, both drivers, in the same way.

“Obviously I will take the chance with the experience I have to lead the team at the beginning of the year, especially when Lando starts to get a bit of experience, but it's definitely going to be a fresh start for McLaren.

“I'm sure it's going to be very similar to how it was at Renault. I've had a very good relationship with Nico, we both played it really fair on track, we both pulled the team forward and the fact we are so close in every qualifying has helped the team to score many points on Sunday.

“Hopefully it will be the same at McLaren and we will have some fun.”