MCLAREN SNARES CARLOS SAINZ TO LEAD THE LINE IN 2019
Mclaren wasted no time in signing up Carlos Sainz to replace its outgoing driver, with the deal revealed just two days after Fernando Alonso’s announcement last week.
Sainz, who has been in the top flight since making his debut with Toro Rosso in 2015, is currently on loan from Red Bull to Renault. With Daniel Ricciardo’s decision to join Renault in 2019, Sainz was in contention for a return to the energy drinks firm’s top table. However, the fact it was prepared to let Sainz join Mclaren means that current Toro Rosso incumbent Pierre Gasly is highly likely to join Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen.
Sainz, who has signed a multi-year deal, said: “I’m delighted to finally be able to confirm that I’ll be a Mclaren driver from the 2019 season. It’s something I’ve been looking at for a while and I’m very excited about this next chapter in my career.” Mclaren has said that it will announce its second driver in due course. The seat is currently occupied by Stoffel Vandoorne, but the team has up-and-coming Brit Lando Norris waiting in the wings. Esteban Ocon, racing for Force India in 2018, has also been linked to the drive. “We’re incredibly excited to have Carlos join us as a Mclaren driver,” said Mclaren boss Zak Brown. “We’ve been assessing him for some time now and rate him very highly among the next generation of young talent emerging through the ranks in Formula 1.”