Carlos Sainz was drafted into the Renault team late last year and did four races with the French outfit, thus he starts his first full season with them feeling well part of and accepted by the team and sees the positives of being Nico Hulkenberg's teammate.
On the occasion of the launch of the Renault RS18 - the teams' 2018 Formula 1 challenger - Sainz spoke in an interview released by the team:
What’s your overall approach to the season ahead?
Carlos Sainz: The general approach is to work harder every day to continue on a positive trend. For sure the main target is to take a step forward, both me as a driver and the whole team. It’s difficult to predict how big that step will be, however, I’m confident as I have been pushing hard during the winter and I know everyone at the factory are giving their very best. I´m convinced this is going to be an exciting season.
Carlos Sainz: The general approach is to work harder every day to continue on a positive trend. For sure the main target is to take a step forward, both me as a driver and the whole team. It’s difficult to predict how big that step will be, however, I’m confident as I have been pushing hard during the winter and I know everyone at the factory are giving their very best. I´m convinced this is going to be an exciting season.
How much do you feel part of the team?
CS: Renault is like a big family and I feel very comfortable around everyone in the team. I came to Enstone for the first time in October and since returning in January it looks like a whole new place. There are new people, new machines, new buildings and construction going on. It’s getting really big and you can see people are really pushing to get the team back to the top. Everyone at the factory buys into that, which is the only way to become number one again. As a driver, to see all this is really motivating!
CS: Renault is like a big family and I feel very comfortable around everyone in the team. I came to Enstone for the first time in October and since returning in January it looks like a whole new place. There are new people, new machines, new buildings and construction going on. It’s getting really big and you can see people are really pushing to get the team back to the top. Everyone at the factory buys into that, which is the only way to become number one again. As a driver, to see all this is really motivating!
You joined the team late in the 2017 season; how much more is there to come from you?
CS: It was a positive four races with the team last season. Between Nico and myself, we helped the team get that sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. I think it was worth it and has helped me to prepare better for the upcoming season. Now I go to testing knowing my engineers and mechanics better, gathering more knowledge on the car and being able to adjust more things to my preferences. This way I can focus on finding a strong baseline to start the championship on the right foot.
CS: It was a positive four races with the team last season. Between Nico and myself, we helped the team get that sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. I think it was worth it and has helped me to prepare better for the upcoming season. Now I go to testing knowing my engineers and mechanics better, gathering more knowledge on the car and being able to adjust more things to my preferences. This way I can focus on finding a strong baseline to start the championship on the right foot.
What have you done in the off-season?
CS: In December I enjoyed some rest, spent lots of time with my family and friends and planned the training camps for 2018 with my team. Since 2nd January onwards I returned to a strict training schedule and a corresponding diet to meet the demands of that. Motivation has been at the highest levels since the year started and that really helps during a thorough preparation. I also had the chance to have a go at a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally, in a New Mégane R.S. which was a real bonus!
CS: In December I enjoyed some rest, spent lots of time with my family and friends and planned the training camps for 2018 with my team. Since 2nd January onwards I returned to a strict training schedule and a corresponding diet to meet the demands of that. Motivation has been at the highest levels since the year started and that really helps during a thorough preparation. I also had the chance to have a go at a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally, in a New Mégane R.S. which was a real bonus!
In visual terms, the biggest change for 2018 will be the halo; what are your thoughts on it?
CS: I think it can be an effective device. As drivers, we will have to adapt to it, 20 laps or so in testing should be enough time. The engineers will see how it affects aerodynamics. I have seen the work done in the wind tunnel back in the factory but now we need to test its behaviour on track. Visually, I don’t think the halo looks too bad once it has been integrated in the car. We will all get used to it and it will be normal fairly quickly.
CS: I think it can be an effective device. As drivers, we will have to adapt to it, 20 laps or so in testing should be enough time. The engineers will see how it affects aerodynamics. I have seen the work done in the wind tunnel back in the factory but now we need to test its behaviour on track. Visually, I don’t think the halo looks too bad once it has been integrated in the car. We will all get used to it and it will be normal fairly quickly.
The pre-season is on home ground in Spain; how are you looking forward to testing?
CS: I´m really looking forward to it. If everything goes to plan, eight days in testing means a lot of laps. There is a lot to learn and many different set-ups to try, which is always challenging and exciting for both drivers and engineers. Nico and I follow similar directions, I see positives from that too.
CS: I´m really looking forward to it. If everything goes to plan, eight days in testing means a lot of laps. There is a lot to learn and many different set-ups to try, which is always challenging and exciting for both drivers and engineers. Nico and I follow similar directions, I see positives from that too.
What are your initial thoughts on the Renault R.S.18?
Carlo Sainz Career Key Dates
2017: Carlos was announced as a Renault Sport Formula One Team driver for 2018 in September 2017 prior to the Singapore Grand Prix, where he took a career-best result of fourth. Before that, Carlos enjoyed eight points-scoring finishes with a notable drive to sixth in Monaco. On his Renault debut, Carlos impressed and claimed what proved to be a highly valuable seventh place in Austin, ultimately putting the team in a positive position to secure sixth place in the Constructors’ standings.
2016: 2016 was a bright year for the upcoming Spaniard, showing consistent results throughout the calendar. Five points-scoring finishes from the opening seven races put him in a good position to show-off his talent. He finished the season on 46 points with impressive drives to sixth in Spain, USA and Brazil.
2015: Carlos made his Formula 1 debut in the 2015 Australian Grand Prix where he took two points courtesy of a ninth-place finish. He would go on to pick up 18 points during his rookie season with a season highlight of seventh in the USA Grand Prix.
2014 – Formula Renault 3.5 Series: Carlos switched back to Renault power in 2014 in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, taking seven victories on his way to the title.
2013 – GP3: Carlos raced for Arden in the GP3 Series, finishing tenth.
2012 – Formula 3: 2012 saw Carlos turn his hand to a number of championships, including the British Formula 3 Championship, Formula 3 Euro Series and the European Formula 3 Championship. He finished sixth in Britain despite five wins, ninth in the Euro Series and fifth in the European Formula with a win and five podiums.
2011 – Formula Renault: Carlos turned to Renault-powered machinery for the first time as he entered the Formula Renault Eurocup series for Koiranen Motorsport. Carlos impressed by finishing second and best Junior in front of Daniil Kvyat with two wins, six second places and two third places. Also that season, he competed in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC) taking the title with ten wins to his name – beating Kvyat and Stoffel Vandoorne to top spot.
2010 – Formula BMW: Carlos’s single-seater career began in 2010 in the Formula BMW Europe Series. He topped the rookie standings with 227 points, finishing fourth in the overall leaderboard with one win and a further four podiums to his name. Carlos also raced in the Formula BMW Pacific Championship as a wildcard, where he scored three wins and another two podiums.
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