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Carlos Sainz says that McLaren is not looking to compare their race pace with their midfield rivals, and that in order to improve the team must compare themselves with the frontrunning teams of Mercedes and Ferrari.
Having just achieved McLaren's first double points finish of 2019 with Sainz in seventh and Norris in eighth place, Sainz acknowledges that the team still have work to do.
"Pretty much in every area, I think we need to improve. Because we look at Mercedes, we see where they are, we look at Ferrari, and then you look at the data and you see that every area of the car needs to be improved."
Sainz added: "If we compare ourselves against the midfield, then we only need to improve in little areas to come on top. But we are not comparing ourselves against that. We are comparing ourselves to a car that is a second quicker at the moment than us.
McLaren currently sit 4th in the constructor's championship with 18 points, a long way behind first placed Mercedes with 173. McLaren has won the constructor's championship 8 times in the past, with 12 drivers' championship's to their name.
In Baku, Sainz managed his first points finish of the season after reliability issues and accidents compromised his previous races: "On a personal level, this one is a bit of a relief after three races where I had exactly the same pace.
"I had it, but just for a reason that I still don't understand three consecutive runs of bad luck happened to us. We finally didn't have any issues and we just demonstrated what we are capable of doing."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
Replies (3)
Login to replyBiggs7
Posts: 38
For sure I totally agree I think McLaren has a very good chassis they will be definitely up there by next year and maybe over take RB if Honda doesn't improve.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I really hope this recovery is real. Both Lando and Carlos have enough talent to be on a winning team.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
I think this shows that they definitely have the right attitude over at McLaren. if you're only gauging yourself against the midfield you're never going to take on the frontrunners.