2
Carlos Sainz admits he wanted to claim sixth place in the drivers' championship "more than anything" in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The Spaniard managed to pull-off a late-race overtake on Nico Hulkenberg, which was enough to secure him a place inside the top six.
Pierre Gasly, one of his challengers for the position, failed to score points after coming together with Lance Stroll on the opening lap - a collision that left the Toro Rosso driver deeply frustrated.
Alexander Albon also didn't accumulate enough points to secure the spot, allowing the McLaren driver to end his season on a high - behind Sebastian Vettel in the world championship.
"I wanted that P6 [in the championship] more than anything," Sainz stated after the race. I had to do it at Turn 11 on the last lap. Constant information. I knew the last points was Nico."
Sainz added that he made the call to take a risk and switch onto the two-stop strategy, pitting for the medium compound with 14 laps to go.
"I told them that we need to risk it and we went to the medium and then I was closing and closing on Nico and finally made it through at Turn 11.
"The other guys were flying past me. I said if I pit now and I have a 21s gap. We can close on the medium tyres."
Sainz affirmed that 2019 has been the "strongest season" in his career, and will return to action next year once more with McLaren, which will be his sixth season in F1.
"I remember finishing here last year and then going to McLaren and not knowing what I can achieve at the team. I have had the strongest season of my career and it has been the strongest season for McLaren in a while.
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
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
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
40,171 comments on Ferrari
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Carlos Sainz jr
282,877 comments on McLaren 156 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about McLaren
Replies (2)
Login to replyRam Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Best of the rest. He would be fighting at the front in one of the top 3 teams, no doubt about it.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Truly impressive. I think it highlights what Red Bull missed out on. The fact that he was ahead or even with Gasly before Gasly got the boot from Red Bull says it all. It's crazy to think that Red Bull could have had arguably the strongest lineup on the grid with Max and Carlos.