Carlos Sainz is confident Red Bull's senior management will look beyond the raw results of his rookie Formula One season with Toro Rosso, which the Spaniard labels “one of my unluckiest years of my career”.
Having graduated to F1 after winning the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, the Spaniard has shown promise with seven points finishes but also suffered six retirements – all due to a mechanical issue – as well as a massive crash in Russia.
Speaking exclusively to F1i, Sainz admits 2015 has been a rollercoaster ride, but focusses on the positives.
“I think I am in one of my unluckiest years of my career, especially regarding the reliability, I feel that everything that could happen has happened,” said the 21-year-old
“Sochi was a difficult one to take after such a recovery and knowing afterwards that we could have finished P5. To get the brake failure was complicated.
“There was a time in the middle of the year where I did five consecutive races where I was running in the points but didn't finish in them. So it’s been a difficult one to take but in the end thanks to the speed and some good races the feeling towards me is positive still.
“Maybe with a normal year with so many retirements probably I would not even have been watched so there are still positives to take out of it.”
Sainz’ misfortune has left him 29 points adrift of team-mate Max Verstappen, with the Dutchman tending to occupy centre stage in the media due to his young age, ballsy overtaking manoeuvres, and strong results.
But the elder rookie says Toro Rosso and parent team Red Bull are not taking the Drivers’ standings at face value.
“The team is fully aware of this, they know more than anyone what has happened to me this year. Red Bull knows it more than anyone too, and they have already also calculated the points that I could have without all these failures and they are very happy with it. I think a lot of people would be surprised to know my points score without these failures and without all these retirements!”
“A lot more for sure! Three times or four times more than what I have now … I don’t really care if it puts me ahead or behind Max, I just know it’s much better for me, for sure.”
'In F1 you discover a whole new person in yourself' - click here for the full Carlos Sainz interview
Click here for an exclusive Q&A with Jolyon Palmer
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