Sainz is a bull raring to go

The 2017 season can't start soon enough for Carlos Sainz, with the junior bull getting a bit bored in his pen and raring to kick off a new year of Grand Prix racing.

Like his distinguished colleagues, the Toro Rosso driver  has been prepping for the upcoming season, his third in F1, building up his fitness to cope with the demanding new cars.

But the time has almost come to step into his 2017 contender and hit the tracks, something he impatiently awaits.

"For us, every year driving the car is an incredible pleasure: the seat, the pedals, the feeling from the brake, the steering wheel," Sainz said to Spain's Marca.

"Every car has its tricks and you want to see how it is going to behave. Then, you get into your bubble and start to try things."

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The environment will obviously seem familiar, but there will be much to learn for Sainz when he takes to the Circuit de Catalunya on February 27, when pre-season testing finally begins.

He's excited however, as the new cars promise to deliver a substantial increase of performance.

"The cars are getting better, but in particular, this year F1 will take a giant step forward in terms of performance: much larger tyres, much higher levels of downforce.

"When I get into the car I'll have a bit more of an itch because I know that the car is going to run much faster."

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