Carlos Sainz claims there will be no additional pressure on him as he replaces Fernando Alonso not only at McLaren but as the torchbearer for Formula 1 in Spain.
In a country where motorcycle racing rules, Alonso was the first man to really generate a strong interest in F1 in his homeland, resulting in a second Grand Prix in Valencia between 2008 and 2012.
Now that he has moved on, however, it falls on Sainz to continue that momentum but he insists that is not a burden to be concerned about.
“There is no extra pressure in that way, mainly because as a driver, you never feel the crowd or the expectations of your home country as pressure. You find it positive,” the second generation driver claimed.
“For me, the fact that everyone is going to watch F1 next year in Spain to see me racing is actually a great thing. It’s something that I look forward to.
“When you jump in the car, you don’t think about it. You just want to win. I want to win one day in F1, and as I want to win everything jumps on board, but it doesn’t apply pressure because the first one that wants to win is myself.”
Even so, as one of those that was inspired by Alonso, resulting in his decision to race in single-seaters rather than follow his father Carlos Sainz Sr. into rallying, the 23-year-old admits the double world champion’s absence will be felt.
“I think we’re going to miss Fernando,” he stated. “I wish him the best in every category that he goes to, and I’m sure wherever he goes, he will perform like he is one of the best drivers in the world.”
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On his own future, Sainz arrives at McLaren with the expectation of leading their attempting recovery after many tough years alongside a rookie in Lando Norris.
“It feels good, it feels in a way powerful. I’m going to arrive at McLaren in my fifth year in Formula 1,” he said.
“I’ve gone through two teams, and I still have that World Series [Formula Renault 3.5] championship still fresh in my mind. So I’m going in with that confidence and a lot of knowledge.
“When you work with two different teams, with very different characteristics of car balance, of set-up, like it was at Toro Rosso and Renault, I think I’ve been at the two extremes of car balance.
“Because of that I’m going to McLaren with a lot of knowledge and wanting to also lead, and follow a direction with them that is hopefully a good one.”