Carlos Sainz "didn't expect" McLaren to be fast this season

Carlos Sainz has been one of the most consistent drivers on the grid this season and will hope to end the season as the 'best of the rest.' The McLaren driver is pleased with how the season has gone but sees room for improvement. 

"The first three races of the season and also the first few after the summer break were not too good, but in the other races we were able to score a lot of points. It would, of course, be great if that worked out in Japan again," Sainz said at a pre-race press conference. 

"We didn't expect this at the start of the season, but it is certainly good news that we are already so constant."

McLaren and Mercedes have announced that they will partner up in 2021 and this will give Sainz a lot of confidence in the future but he is focused on the present. 

"That is something for the long term. We now have to get results from the collaboration with Renault and so far that has been going pretty well," he said.

McLaren will hope for a good result at the Japanese Grand Prix and cement themselves as the top of the midfield once again.