Carlos Sainz has been full of praise for McLaren team after the team showed their ability to compete with both drivers making it all the way to Q3 and Sainz qualified seventh.
Lando Norris started in Melbourne impressively qualifying eighth but Sainz made a statement as he qualified seventh in a time of 1:28.813 to bounce back from a poor performance at Albert Park. Sainz moved to McLaren from Renault and now seems to have settled into his new team.
Speaking following his successful qualifying campaign Sainz paid tribute to his team and admitted it is a step in the right direction.
"I want to congratulate the whole team because we managed to make it to Q3 with both cars.
“That is something that has not happened for a long time at McLaren.
“It shows that we are doing well and are heading in the right direction.
“A tough winter and second half of 2018 trying to understand the problems of the MCL33 are now finally starting to bear fruit.”
Despite a positive start to the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, the Spaniard admitted they still have some way to go.
“We still have a lot to learn and our improve our car, but that we are now one of the best midfielders was unthinkable three or four months ago,” he added.