Sainz: I think it will be a good year for McLaren

Speaking during a sponsor's function in Madrid, Sainz told reporters, "The car had no covers, only the engine and the chassis, the sidepods and wings were also missing. I saw it from the outside, it is being built and will be ready for the testing."

The 24-year-old arrives at McLaren with the once mighty team languishing at the wrong end of the grid, thus a huge task awaits him and a team that has gone through something of a staffing revolution in the past few years, including the arrival of Zak Brown to lead the team out of the bog they appear stuck in and get them back to winning ways.

Sainz explained, "McLaren has gone through a year of reflection in 2018 and they have learned that they took the car in the wrong direction."

"There is ongoing restructuring throughout the team, there are many very good people and they're trying to get back to where they were six years ago, winning races and return to fighting for F1 world championships."

"I'm going to try to be part of this journey back to the elite of F1... we'll see what happens. It is an investment in the medium-term, not in the short-term, seeing results in 2019 would be very nice but it will be a challenge."

"The regulation changes may help teams that have been struggling, but we will only see if we are heading in the right direction again during February testing and in Australia."

The MCL33 was arguably one of the worst chassis ever produced by the Woking outfit, thus no surprise the team are starting their new project on a clean slate.

Sainz continued, "With regards to the car, what I see is a very big effort on the part of the engineers. At first sight, I like what I see. I've seen images of the design and aerodynamics and I like it a lot, now what I need is to drive it, go fast on the track and deliver results."

Although Sainz replaces 'greener pastures' bound Fernando Alonso, the double F1 World Champion is likely to play a role in helping develop the car but how and when he will get involved is uncetain.

When asked if his mentor will be helping out, Sainz replied, "It's a question for him more than for me. What he's doing outside F1 is admirable, although I'm not surprised because I already knew how exceptional he is. Is he going to come back or not? I think it's still early days for that."

McLaren have not won a race since Jenson Button triumphed at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, he spiral has been downward, steep and fast, but the current state of the team does not discourage their new driver.

"I have a good feeling, I think it will be a good year for McLaren," added Sainz who will take part in his 82nd Grand Prix when he lines up on the grid, in orange, for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 17 March in Melbourne.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2018/12/11/sainz-positive-spirit-at-mclaren-is-infecting-me/