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Sainz describes leading McLaren as "powerful" in 2019

11:28, 08 Dec 2018

byBobby Vincent

New McLaren driver Carlos Sainz feels "powerful" rather than scared about leading his new team in the 2019 Formula One season.

Sainz's team-mate next season will be Lando Norris, in his rookie season in F1 - meaning McLaren will be turning to the former Renault and Toro Rosso driver for a level-head and a reliable F1 brain.

The responsibility of being the 'main guy' could get to some drivers, but not Sainz, who has insisted he is relishing the challenge rather than hiding from it.

"It feels good, it feels in a way powerful," Sainz explained to Autosport. "I'm going to arrive at McLaren in my fifth year Formula 1. 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."

McLaren will enter the 2019 season as one of three brand new line-ups; with Toro Rosso and Williams the other two.