2019 Review: Carlos Sainz: Better Than the Best of the Rest

After many years of looking for the driver who would enable McLaren to bounce back, Carlos Sainz seems to have accomplished what Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne attempted in vain. At the wheel of an increasingly fast McLaren MCL34, the Spaniard displayed the full extent of his talent during a superb season, combining race intelligence and tire management. Working effectively with his team, they were able to leverage the experience of the Iberian to improve the car and offer bold strategies, often successful.

After a difficult start with zero points after two races, Carlos Sainz quickly turned things around by multiplying performances, culminating in the team’s first podium since 2012 in Brazil. Managed by top figures Andreas Seidl and James Key, Carlos Sainz was able to optimize the various aspects of a Formula 1 race to challenge the top 6, normally out of reach for several seasons.

Taking advantage of the mid-season exchange between Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, Sainz managed to secure an unexpected 6th place in the championship by earning 96 points by the end of the season. He is by far the best in the so-called “others” category, and even more impressive as he snatched the spot from a Red Bull.

Despite some missed opportunities in terms of points, the progression during this season has been steady, achieving several valuable 5th positions, not to mention his superb Brazilian podium. There is no doubt that if next season continues on this trajectory, the Spaniard and McLaren may be able to pose some challenges to the top three teams.

Battling fiercely in qualifying with his young teammate, he narrowly loses the qualifying duel 10-11 but surpasses him in the race thanks to formidable tire management, supported by intelligent team decisions.

Carlos Sainz is certainly a contender for the top 5 next year and is especially a real opportunist. He will need to be considered in 2020.