Carlos Sainz Jr feels like on-loan footballer with Renault F1 deal
Carlos Sainz Jr says being on loan from Red Bull to Renault is a strange situation because it is more common for a footballer than a Formula 1 driver
The Red Bull protege switched to Renault from Toro Rosso for the final four races of 2017 and is contesting the entire 2018 season with the French manufacturer.
While it is not uncommon for big manufacturers to place young drivers at smaller teams, Sainz is now a fourth-year grand prix driver who moved to Renault as part of the deal switching Toro Rosso's customer engine supply to McLaren.
Sainz told Autosport: "I've not heard of many drivers who are on loan, it's more of a football term.
"It's a bit of a strange situation, I'm a special case at the moment. That's why I can't let it get into my head.
"I need to just do what I was doing at Toro Rosso, having a good race every time I go out on track, and then things fall for themselves, like it did at Toro Rosso.
"Who would have told me when I was at Toro Rosso that this year I would be at Renault? No-one. It is a very special situation."
As part of the arrangement Red Bull is still able to recall Sainz if it decides it wants to promote the 23-year-old to its senior team for 2019.
Sainz's ex-Toro Rosso team-mate Max Verstappen has already committed to Red Bull for next season and beyond but Daniel Ricciardo's future is uncertain.
Should Ricciardo re-sign with Red Bull, Sainz will be free to commit to Renault on his own terms.
"I'm trying to impress myself," said Sainz. "By that I mean I'm really looking forward to having a full season with a team.
"I'm going to keep it open, keep performing the way I've been doing.
"Things will sort out for themselves, normally if you perform well good things are coming."
Previous article
Fernando Alonso: McLaren can forget F1 midfield and look to Red Bull
Next article
Raikkonen answers your questions
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Carlos Sainz Jr. |
| Teams | Renault F1 Team |
| Author | Scott Mitchell |
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
