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Carlos Sainz will join McLaren for the 2019 season, the team has confirmed. The Woking-based squad has hired Sainz as Fernando Alonso's replacement, who announced on Tuesday that he would be leaving the sport at the end of the season.
Sainz has been linked to a McLaren drive for several weeks, with the rumours gathering pace following Renault's announcement that Daniel Ricciardo would take his seat at the French outfit next year.
“I’m delighted to finally be able to confirm that I’ll be a McLaren driver from the 2019 season," he saind. "It’s something I’ve been looking at for a while and I’m very excited about this next chapter in my career. I’ve been a McLaren fan for as long as I can remember. It’s a great name in the sport with an incredible heritage, and the list of drivers that have raced for McLaren over the years are among the heroes of Formula 1.
“Fernando is of course one of them, so it’s particularly special that I’ll be taking his seat as part of the next generation of Spanish racing drivers behind the wheel of a McLaren. Finally, I’d like to thank everyone at McLaren for giving me this opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream. The team has a long-term plan for the future and I’m very much looking forward to playing a key role in its journey back to success.”
Sainz made his Formula 1 debut in 2015, partnering Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso. After Verstappen got the promotion to Red Bull after the start of the 2016 season, Sainz stayed at Toro Rosso for another two years before departing the team.
This year, he is driving for Renault while being loaned out by Red Bull. With a drive available at the energy drink team for next season, Sainz's move to McLaren all but confirms Pierre Gasly's switch to the Milton Keynes squad.
It is not yet known who will partner Sainz at McLaren, however it is expected that it will be either its current driver Stoffel Vandoorne or its reserve driver, Lando Norris. Team CEO Zak Brown says that Sainz is a great addition to the squad, admitting it has been lining him up for some time.
“We’re incredibly excited to have Carlos join us as a McLaren driver," the American said. "We’ve been assessing him for some time now and rate him very highly among the next generation of young talent emerging through the ranks in Formula 1.
“Carlos brings with him the perfect blend of youth and experience. Although he’s just 23, he’ll be starting his fifth season in the sport with us and will bring with him a huge amount of racing experience, both in Formula 1 and with our partner Renault.
“It’s no secret that Carlos is a huge admirer of Fernando’s, and it’s fitting that he will be stepping into his seat as a Spaniard with a legendary name in motorsport. We think he’ll be a great fit for McLaren and we’re really excited to have him join us from next season and beyond.”
Fergal Walsh
So its Gasly to Red Bull then? Or will they mayhaps look at another team for a driver?
Good for Carlos. Finally out of the tentacles of Red Bull that have been holding him back for a couple of years. It's also time to shine as well. No excuses. He'll be expected to be the leader.
Gasly will probably go to Red Bull, and I suspect he will be a clear #2 to Max.
Well yes. Sadly it was to be expected, but Im still disappointed that RB went the diva route. One of the things I liked about RB for a while now was that they've had 2 competitive drivers at once with no official first driver. Now they'll just be like the rest.
McLaren will give Norris to RedBull/ToroRosso in exchange for James Key. I guess they will keep Vandoorne as an experienced driver, since he has been with them for some time now.
I sure hope not. I think Lando Norris is the only truly promising/exciting young driver with super star potential. Also, the fact that Stoffel is struggling makes it more vital for McLaren to have a deep bench. I do hope that McLaren lend him to another team. Kid should be in F1 next year.
@Calle.ITW... Could you see Lando Norris in a McLaren and Stoffel shuffled to Super in Japan?
Which of the Supers? The Formula or the GT? ;) I dont think so really. Not now at least. I think Alonso leaving them was a bad blow, and they probably dont want to rush the next move too much. They'll bring in Sainz, see how the two compare, and then after 2019 they might oust Vandoorne. Seeing as how they've over and over said that they still have faith in Stoff, I dont think even McLiaren would go so far as to backpedal on it after saying it so frequently.
Should it against my belief happen... Well... McLaren doesnt really have that much of a presence in either SGT or SF as a team (in the earlier there is one McLaren, and Im still not sure whether its a works McLaren or just a customer GT-car like most European cars there are), so if he does go to either of them, it'd probably not be as a McLaren driver unless he does it on the side while being their sim driver or something.
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McLaren will give Norris to RedBull/ToroRosso in exchange for James Key. I guess they will keep Vandoorne as an experienced driver, since he has been with them for some time now.