Sainz feels "no added pressure" for 2019

Carlos Sainz Jr. will be the only Spaniard on the grid next season, with the driver replacing Fernando Alonso at McLaren; but Sainz has insisted he does not feel any added pressure.

Sainz has admitted before that Alonso was his idol growing up and his desire to race in Formula One was fuelled by the two-time world champion.

Alonso retired from F1 after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with his attempts to complete the Triple Crown by winning Indy 500.

"There is no extra pressure in that way, mainly because as a driver, you never feel the crowd or the expectations of your home country as pressure. You find it positive," Sainz said at the FIA Gala on Friday evening.

"For me, the fact that everyone is going to watch Formula One next year in Spain to see me racing is actually a great thing. It's something that I look forward to. And when you jump in the car, you don't think about it. You just want to win.

"I want to win one day in Formula 1, and as I want to win, everything jumps on board, but don't apply me pressure because the first one that wants to win is myself."

Sainz also believes that F1 will miss a big character like Alonso in the future.

"I think we're going to miss Fernando," Sainz claimed. "I wish him the best in every category that he goes to, and I'm sure wherever he goes, he will perform like he is one of the best drivers in the world."