Sainz found a 'contagious will to go racing' at McLaren

Carlos Sainz was all stocked up on energy when he first walked through the door at McLaren, but after feeling the team's own enthusiasm, his spirit was were boosted even further.

Sainz move from Renault to the Woking-based outfit - and his subsequent departure from his Red Bull foster family - was seen by many as a case of limited choices for the 24-year-old.

Daniel Ricciardo's arrival at Renault and Red Bull's eagerness to promote Pierre Gasly to its senior outfit effectively narrowed down Sainz's opportunities for 2019.

And given McLaren's underperformance - again - in 2018, and questions surrounding its ability to extract itself from the doldrums, the Spaniard's prospects appear unclear. Except for him.

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"I’ve been here already a few times after the test and to be honest, it feels great," Sainz said, speaking during his first official PR commitment with McLaren.

"I still have many people to meet. All my work has been probably biased to analyzing the test, and seeing what we can do for next year.

"For me it is special to come every day and come through the door and see this building. I feel privileged.

"It feels an honor to be part of this family but also to see some optimism and happy faces around the factory and see that no one has lost the will to keep moving and keep improving."

Sainz admits he wasn't sure what to expect when he visited Woking the first time, having observed from a far these past few season, on the race track, McLaren's disappointing state of affairs.

"Probably in the back of mind I thought maybe I would find a team that wishes that its season is over and we go for next year.

"But actually I have found a team that is full of battery even in November/December. Full of will to go racing next year, and that is an immediately contagious thing.

"It comes through everyone in the team and through me really well.

"I was coming full of energy and full of batteries – and it has made me come even more than I thought to Woking to make sure that I cover all the areas before we go racing next year."

While the proof will be in the pudding next year, for both McLaren and Sainz, the Spaniard hopes the two will grow together and work for the long term.

"I want to make it my home for the next few years," he says.

"The only way to do that apart from good results is showing good commitment to the brand, to the team, getting on well with everyone and I can tell you that this last month has been a very encouraging sign to see how everyone has welcomed me and the way we’ve been working together this last month.

"I feel very much at home already and that is a very important first step as a driver, the first feeling is always very important and that first feeling has been really positive."

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