Sainz expecting to stay in the midfield this season

Carlos Sainz has admitted he doesn't expect McLaren to break free of the midfield this season despite having a considerable advantage over their rivals. Toro Rosso are 39 points behind the midfield leaders but Sainz doesn't think they'll get near the top three yet.

"I don't think we can break free from midfield this year," Sainz suggested to Motorsport.com.

Sainz has had a great season and is only just behind the sixth place in the Drivers' Championship, Pierre Gasly despite the Frenchman being in a Red Bull. With Gasly dropping down to Toro Rosso for the rest of the season, Sainz has a strong chance to finish ahead of him but Sainz maintains the focus is strengthening their grip on the midfield.

"They have been trying for many years and somehow it is extremely difficult. So we have to understand that something like that is not easy - that the best we can do is look for us and understand what they (the other teams) are doing better," he added"