Sainz: "Alonso advised me to go to McLaren because of potential"

Carlos Sainz will be joining alliances with McLaren for 2019 and the Spanish driver has revealed that Fernando Alonso was a big influence in his decision to join the Woking-based team.

Sainz is replacing Alonso for 2019, with the latter retiring from F1 and moving his focus elsewhere. But Sainz has revealed that Alonso's comments to him regarding the potential of the side, had a big impact in his final decision.

"With many changes and professional events, it has been a positive year, it has helped me a lot in my sports career and has given me the opportunity to open a door like McLaren for the next two years and I'm sure I will enjoy them," Sainz told Mundo Deportivo.

"I ask for health, well-being for my family and little else, the rest falls on its own weight, if you try hard and do things well, dreams come true and you can get things for yourself."

Sainz then spoke about his fellow compatriot, Alonso and the impact he had on the former Renault driver's decision.

"Fernando Alonso advised me to go to McLaren, I saw him with good eyes, he believes that the team has potential, he knows that the project is medium or long-term, but I am young to have that patience and establish myself in a team like this."