Sainz wants to learn more about the car to improve next year

Carlos Sainz may be on the tail of Pierre Gasly but the Spaniard is staying grounded amid his good form. The McLaren driver doesn't expect to break out of the midfield this year and wants to make sure the team keep improving next year.

Sainz joined McLaren from Renault for the 2019 season and has impressed at his new side, sitting seventh in the Drivers' Championship just five points behind the Red Bull of Gasly. McLaren are currently in the best of the rest position in the Constructors' Championship, 39 points ahead of their nearest rivals, Toro Rosso.

Despite being in a great place in the Championships, Sainz is staying grounded and is aware of the challenge McLaren face.

"I don't think we are going to be able to break out of the midfield in the second half of the season," Sainz told Motorsport.com.

"We might bring a few tenths to the car which will be great, but everyone else is going to bring them, so we need to be careful.

"What we need to make sure is that we learn the right steps to do on the car this year and learn them for next year.

"That is the main target for the second half of this season: learn about this car to make sure that we put all the things in the right place for next year's car."