685155e8dabec843b582c7dfa8878db979f52855

Renault recognise Sainz cooperation

15:07, 29 May 2018

byAdam Newton

Carlos Sainz was left in a difficult spot on Sunday when came got caught up in the middle of Nico Hulkenberg and Max Verstappen’s epic duel.

Sainz and Hulkenberg are team mates, and were on very different strategies, so normally, Sainz would let Hulkenberg through easy peasy.

However, with Verstappen closely behind, this is easier said than done, and the Spaniard produced a fantastic move to let his team mate through and protect his own position versus Verstappen.

Cyril Abiteboul, the boss at Renault, said: “It’s so difficult to appreciate what’s going on in that situation, but I’m sure when he (Sainz) will watch the race in replay he will understand.”

It was a tough race for Sainz, who started in P8, but fell back to tenth to pick up just one point to add to his tally, which now sits at 20 after six races.

Abiteboul also said: “We had no real alternative other than that strategy for Carlos.

“It was a very difficult race for him, he also had to let Nico past, so Nico could execute his race.

“But again we will have a discussion, and the team needs to appreciate what he’s done, and we need to keep that in our heads for the future.”