Carlos Sainz: "Next year we're not going to fight for a world championship"

"The regulations in 2021 are a great opportunity for McLaren," Sainz told Sky Sports F1.

"McLaren might have taken a lot of years to get back on top, but '21 allows us to create kind of a shortcut to a better position - and we need to take that. I think 2020 is still important because we want to continue the trend, but '21 is an opportunity."

Sainz doesn't think that he will be able to compete for the championship in 2020 but is looking forward to improving on 2019's results. 

"I know that next year we're not going to fight for a world championship, but I know that next year we have a good chance of making another good step, and that good step needs to come little by little," he said.

"I don't say we need to do another 1.5-second step like we've done from last year to this year, but keep digging those tenths out of the car and just keep the way we're going at the moment."

Sainz has been very impressive in 2019 and he will look to keep improving and drag his way up towards to podium.