Hamilton infused Sainz with confidence over McLaren drive

Carlos Sainz says Lewis Hamilton approved of his choice to move to McLaren despite the Woking-based outfit's depressed state of affairs.

After a year with Renault, Sainz was expected to remain with the French outfit, or eventually return to Red Bull, but circumstances lured him to McLaren where he will race alongside rookie Lando Norris in 2019.

Sainz's choice isn't without risk given the team's current plight and seemingly endless inability to extract itself from the doldrums.

However, Hamilton, who started his career with McLaren and won his first world championship with the team in 2008, gave Sainz's decision the thumbs-up.

"I speak with Lewis, actually more than I thought, and more than first expected," said Sainz.

"I have always had a good relationship with him. I sit with him in briefings quite a lot and we chat a bit about many things.

• Sainz predicts McLaren renaissance after 'hitting the bottom'

"He asked me about McLaren the other day, so you can see that he is also interested even if he doesn’t look like (it) he also knows what is going on in the paddock.

"We were talking a bit about Woking and how spectacular it is and all that. And he also believes McLaren cannot get any worse than it is now."

A scarcity of available seats likely compelled Sainz to move to Woking, but Hamilton, while he has publicly expressed his sadness over seeing his former squad race at the back of the field, offered a positive outlook on the future.

"He also agrees that with all the seats taken at the top like Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, that McLaren is probably a very good place to go to," added Sainz.

"So in that sense he gave me confidence. He really likes McLaren. He has a lot of respect for the people there, and he gave me a good feeling about it."

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