Sainz not looking beyond McLaren for 2021

Carlos Sainz's contract with McLaren will expire at the end of 2020, but the Spaniard isn't currently contemplating a move away from the papaya squad in the future given its "constant upwards curve".

Sainz has spearhead McLaren's efforts this season to lead F1's midfield, the Woking-based outfit permanently sealing fourth in the Constructors' standings thanks to its driver's podium finish in Brazil.

Like many of his colleagues, Sainz's current deal with his employer runs until the end of next year. The 25-year-old's stock has nicely appreciated this season and could rise even further in 2020, potentially positioning him for a seat with one of F1's top teams.

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"For as long as I've been in this team, it's been a constant upwards curve," said Sainz recently, quoted by Motorsport.com.

"That is obviously a very attractive thing to have and not something that you see a lot in Formula 1.

"I am very happy and very proud of what this team is doing. It's obviously very, very early to think about 2021 but it's not a secret that I'm very happy in this team.

"I think both parties are very happy with each other and at the moment for me there's nowhere else to look around."

As a driver, Sainz took a step forward this year, a personal development rooted in a challenging year alongside Nico Hulkenberg at Renault in 2018.

"The year next to Nico helped me quite a lot to learn things from an experienced driver," said Sainz.

"Previous to that all my teammates had been one-year experience in Formula 1 so actually to have a year next to Nico helped me to learn a couple of new things for myself.

"Coming into McLaren I knew I was ready for the challenge, the way I understand car balance, the way to develop it, the speed that I knew that I had in Toro Rosso and in Renault.

"It was just a matter of getting into this team, feeling comfortable immediately and then the results would take care of themselves. There was nothing really that I was afraid of or anything."

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