Carlos Sainz has said that his deal with Ferrari to replace Sebastian Vettel in 2021 was carried out with the full support and agreement of his current bosses at McLaren.
"As drivers we are under very strict contract conditions," Sainz told presenter Will Buxton in an exclusive interview with the official Formula1.com website this week.
"The moment I felt there was an interest from Ferrari in hiring me for 2021, I went straight to Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] to comment on it and he had positive feedback in terms of, 'Okay, this opportunity has come to you so let's stay in touch to see how everything develops'.
"They needed to have clarity from me in case they needed a replacement," he acknowledged. "Immediately they told us, 'Carlos please let us know if this is a serious thing because we obviously cannot be left behind. If we're going to go into a market we need to know as soon as possible.
"We had a very open relationship - we've had always, but since that point we've decided to take in a very open way, keeping us posted mutually in terms of what goes on behind the scenes.
“The key to this process has been the clarity and the openness of all parties involved to make it happen,” Sainz continued. "That makes me incredibly proud, and the way it has all been managed makes me feel very happy and very thankful to Zak and his team.”
Sainz said that the initial interest emerged over the winter, with discussions lasting into the coronavirus shutdown meaning that many details had to be decided over video conferences.
"It was fairly strange, I must say. My team - let's say my dad, my manager took pare of the most important beats but I was on the phone with Mattia [Binotto, Ferrari team boss] now and then, on the phone with Zak constantly, on the phone ad Andreas [Seidl, McLaren principal.]"
While McLaren wanted to keep their driver line-up intact, there were no hard feelings when Sainz decided to accept the offer from Ferrari.
"They were disappointed but understanding, but at the same time looking forward themselves and for the team.
“They were happy for me,” he insisted. “They congratulated me, they were happy and they said: ‘Look Carlos, you deserve it and I’m sure you will do great there’. That confidence boost is always nice to hear from your bosses.”
Sainz' place at McLaren next year will be taken by Daniel Ricciardo moving from Renault, while Lando Norris remains with the team.
Sainz himself will still be at Woking for the rest of 2020, and he promised to pull out all the stops to make their remaining time together a success.
“I’m keen to say goodbye to McLaren in the best possible way,” he said. “I’m going to give my best this year, the same way I was giving my best last year.
“Next year even if I’m part of Ferrari, trust me that nothing would make me more happy than seeing McLaren back at the top of a Formula 1 podium, becaused McLaren has always been part of that story of those battle at the front.
“As a Formula 1 fan, as a McLaren fan now, I would love to see McLaren back at the top,” he said, looking forward to the end of the current shuidown and the post-coronavirus resumption of motorsport
"Let's go back racing soon because I'm getting really bored - I want to get out of home, I want to go back to McLaren.
"I want to drive a simulator, I want to talk about tyres, about races and data and everything, and enjoy Formula 1 again!"
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