Sainz determined to fight back for points in Brazil

Carlos Sainz failed to score a top ten finish in Mexico for his second race with Renault, but hopes to be dancing the samba in Brazil next weekend.

The Spaniard had a positive start to his career with the French team, running on a par with team mate Nico Hulkenberg in Austin and Mexico, although both men failed to reach the checkered flag last time out.

"Mexico was difficult, I had a high-speed spin early on in the race which hampered my running," says Sainz in Renault's Brazilian GP preview.

"After the last few races, I think we have a car that can be in the top ten. We need to keep both cars on track and aim for points again in Brazil. We need to fightback."

Despite enjoying a few good races in Brazil, Interlagos isn't one of Sainz's favourite tracks. But the venue is still one he looks forward to, thanks to its heritage and atmosphere.

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"The track is obviously nice and you can still feel the vibe from Ayrton Senna all around," says the 23-year-old.

"He’s still very much in people’s hearts, which makes it very special. In actual fact, it’s not a track layout I particularly enjoy, but it’s one of those historical places in Formula 1 where you race.

There are a lot of stories in Brazil and lots of championships have been won there. The Brazilian culture is pretty eclectic, and, in terms of food, it’s probably my favourite destination on the calendar."

As for Interlagos' specific layout, Sainz echoes most of his colleagues' view of a challenging circuit to master, especially when the rain sets in, which is often the case unfortunately.

"The track is old school and challenging to get right, especially the twisty in-field which features some changes in elevation.

"The weather usually throws up some surprises; it can be nice and very warm and then it will switch to thunderstorms.

"The secret is adapting quickly to the weather and finding a well-balanced car which is suited to both wet and dry conditions."

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