2019 McLaren driver Carlos Sainz has revealed support for his move from Renault from the British team’s last world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Despite being tipped for the Red Bull seat vacated by Daniel Ricciardo, the Spaniard instead decided to replace his fellow countryman and mentor Fernando Alonso at McLaren for next season.
In the time since that was announced back in August, the 23-year-old admits he and the four-time world champion have often talked about his future switch.
“I speak with Lewis, actually more than I thought, and more than first expected,” Sainz commented. “I have always had a good relationship with him. I sit with him in briefings quite a lot and we chat a bit about many things.
“He asked me about McLaren the other day, so you can see that he is also interested even if he doesn’t look like (it) he also knows what is going on in the paddock.
“We were talking a bit about Woking and how spectacular it is and all that and he also believes McLaren cannot get any worse than it is now,” he claimed.
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It isn’t too unsurprising to hear Hamilton’s interest in his former team, particularly as he has often publicised his opinions regarding their current lack of competitiveness as a desire to see them back near the front in Formula 1.
“He also agrees that with all the seats taken at the top like Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, that McLaren is probably a very good place to go to,” Sainz continued.
“So in that sense, he gave me confidence. He really likes McLaren.
“He has a lot of respect for the people there, and he gave me a good feeling about it.”