Sainz: Renault season was huge for personal growth

Carlos Sainz Jr has said his time at Renault throughout the 2018 season enabled him to "get to know himself", having only ever driven for Toro Rosso before that in Formula 1.

Sainz drove in 56 races for Toro Rosso before joining Renault at the end of 2017 and staying throughout 2018.

The Spaniard achieved points in 13/21 grands prix last season - a stat that is greater than any of his midfield rivals - earning the driver a long-term deal at McLaren for the 2019 season.

"Moving to Renault has been a great experience for me and going to a team like McLaren with similar resources is going to help me," Sainz told Motorsport Week.

"The year of experience (of) also getting to know myself... because I only knew the Carlos of Toro Rosso, what he liked in a Toro Rosso. Going to another team (showed me) what I needed as a driver, the good things of the Toro Rosso (version to) try and apply them in the Renault, keep the good things from Renault and try to nurse them together with the Toro Rosso ones.

"There's a lot of stuff going on that you can do as a driver, and the amount of learning that I've done this year is something that I'm really taking into McLaren. I'm interested in seeing how the Carlos of next year (acts), having the first two-year contract, being fully part of a team.

"I'm not saying at Renault I didn't behave like that," Sainz added. "I'm interested to see how the Carlos of next year goes into the first race."