Sainz: McLaren's scope for improvement greater than other F1 teams

Sainz said McLaren's focus last year was on getting to the bottom of its troubles during a frustrating campaign before committing to this season's car.

Although that allowed McLaren's rivals to make a headstart on their 2019 challengers, Sainz - who joined the team from Renault - said that means McLaren has greater scope to improve its car from now on.

"I think where we were in Abu Dhabi in qualifying to where we are more or less nowadays in qualifying, it shows the team has done progress," Sainz told Autosport.

"We didn't start very early with developing this car, because we were trying to understand last year's car through the second half of the season.

"So I think the team has taken good steps in the right direction, and this car still has a lot of margin of development."

McLaren's push to improve has been boosted by the arrival of its new technical director James Key, who joined the team shortly before the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sainz, who worked with Key at Toro Rosso, has vowed to do all he can to help him settle in and thinks Key will bring good things to McLaren.

"I think he will get a bit more independence," explained Sainz.

"James has a very incredible mind, he has a great talent, and he's always [managed to build] good cars.

"So I think in McLaren he has the right place for him to have a bit more independence, and to have a good freedom to exploit his talent and hopefully it will pay off in some years."

Speaking about his relationship with Key, Sainz added: "I know what the Toro Rosso balance was like, and what the things are I like from Toro Rosso.

"I have experience with another sort of midfield car, like a Renault, so altogether, I think I have the right information and the right tools to work close with James Key.

"We can both hopefully move this team a bit forward."