'We have no idea where we are' - Sainz

Carlos Sainz has admitted that McLaren does not know where it stands in the pecking order in Formula One. The British team endured a middling first week of testing in Barcelona.

The Spaniard finished the first week of pre-season testing in 12th place, two places behind his rookie teammate Lando Norris.

Although he was able to set a 1:18.558s, the time was completed on the C5 compound, the softest option available to the teams during testing.

Sainz says he does not know where the team currently sits in the food chain in F1 but said they would be behind Ferrari in Melbourne.

“I would say we are behind Ferrari,” he explained to Mundo Deportivo.

"We are already getting more serious, but we do not know where we are. Last year all of the average grid teams were a tenth or two (apart) but when you arrive at the tests, you see that there is maybe half a second difference…

“You know that by removing 10kg from the car or setting the qualification mode or putting the soft or hard tyre you gain tenths or seconds, you can create a series of variables that is difficult.

“We are going to work on the car, which has room to develop.”