Source: Renault F1 Media

F1 News

Setbacks this season weird for Sainz

Setbacks this season "weird" for Sainz

10-08-2018 12:45
Author profile picture

Bobby Vincent

Renault driver Carlos Sainz Jr. describes his season so far as "weird" with results perhaps not matching his performances.

Sainz believes that his results haven't matched the progress that the Spaniard's made in this 2018 season.

The Renault driver scored in eight of the twelve grands prix so far and sits in eleventh in the drivers' standings.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sainz's team-mate is being retained next season alongside Daniel Ricciardo, who shocked the F1 world last week with his announcement that he will be switching from Red Bull.

Sainz's future remains uncertain because of this, there's no space at Renault and Red Bull is an option as he is still contracted there, but McLaren are openly interested in the Spaniard's services.

"It's been weird, because I was achieving a lot of points at the beginning of the year without being 100% comfortable with the car, and working very hard to get it a bit back (to where I was comfortable)," Sainz told Autosport.

"I think Barcelona was a good turning point, where I was able to get that stability, that confidence with the car.

"And since then, a lot of things have happened to me on race day and the points suddenly are not coming, even if I'm pretty confident with the car. Paul Ricard was a good example, where we have an engine issue and issues towards the end.

"We did a perfect weekend, then a good qualifying in Austria, and in Hockenheim with the old front wing, and running in the points always.

"But situations on Sundays have made me miss on quite a lot of points, and sometimes a championship doesn't reflect the whole picture of the year."