McLaren have confirmed that Carlos Sainz will come in as replacement for Fernando Alonso next year onwards. The news is out just two days after the two-time world champion announced retirement from Formula 1 racing after the end of 2018 season. Sainz is currently driving on loan for the Renault Sport F1 team and has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren 2019 onwards. The 23-year-old Spaniard made his F1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso and after Alonso, he will continue the Spanish driver’s saga in racing’s highest and most elite sport with the British team.
On joining the team from next season onwards and replacing one of the greatest F1 drivers, Carlos Sainz said, “I’m delighted to finally be able to confirm that I’ll be a McLaren driver from the 2019 season. 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.”
McLaren last won a world title 10 years ago and since then has struggled to see any heydays. Therefore, F1 fans will be certainly eager to see what Sainz brings to the team. They currently stand at seventh position in the constructors’ rankings, behind Force India and ahead of Toro Rosso.