Carlos Sainz’s deal to race for Ferrari from 2021 is done and dusted, but the Spaniard has tucked away his precious contract in a drawer to focus exclusively on delivering the best possible results to McLaren once the 2020 campaign gets underway.
Sainz’s path to the Scuderia was wide open when it became clear that the Italian outfit and Sebastian Vettel would not be continuing their journey together next year.
It’s obviously a dream come true for Sainz who would have not believed his good fortune had it been predicted to him before his arrival in F1 in 2015.
Carlos Sainz’s winding road to the House of Maranello
“If someone had told me that I was going to be at Toro Rosso, at Renault, at McLaren and a year later I was going to sign with Ferrari, I would have fallen on my ass,” he admitted, speaking during Movistar’s ‘Vamos Sobre Ruedas’ program.
“I am already getting to know this sport better. F1 always has surprises, both bad and good, and you have to be prepared for everything and focus on what you have under control, give it your all and then hope that things come together.”
Sainz’s fans – and indeed many pundits – can hardly wait to see their favourite driver racing in red next season alongside Charles Leclerc.
But the 25-year-old is quick to remind everyone that his allegiance is presently with McLaren and he intends on fulfilling his duties with the Woking-based outfit to the best of his abilities.
“I understand the people who want to see me in red and fighting for podiums and victories as soon as possible, but I like to do things well,” he insisted.
“I have a year left at McLaren and I want to do things better if I can. I am very fond of them and I am very grateful to them, I really want to conclude things well.
“When I head back to Woking, I’ll put Ferrari in a drawer and I will only think of McLaren because they have behaved so well with me.
“Everyone congratulated me and they’re happy for me, and that is something that I won’t forget and I want to leave in the best possible way.”
Sainz says the best parting message he could leave McLaren would be one that would include a good string of results once the 2020 season gets underway.
“It would be very good to leave McLaren as a gentleman, it is my main objective this year,” he added.
“With all the attention that there will be, if I can deliver a very good year it would be a forceful message.”