Sainz finally getting to grips with McLaren after struggling with tricky 'A-spec'

Carlos Sainz believes he has finally reached a level of understanding with his McLaren after struggling with the 'A-spec' car at the start of the season.

Sainz has endured an up-and-down year to date, initially struggling for pace during the opening rounds and suffering horrendous luck when he eventually did find speed with MCL35.

The Spaniard is now more confident his side of the garage has the knowledge to eradicate the sensitivity issues he has conceded to struggling with.

"The feeling with the car is there [now]," he said. "I struggled a lot at the beginning of the year understanding this new McLaren 35 'A'. It is a tricky car to drive, difficult to understand.

"You have seen us struggling at some circuits in some conditions so it is difficult to understand what is going on with the car.

"I feel like lately, over the last few races, I have an understanding of what is going on and am starting to feel more comfortable and happy in qualifying trim."

Sainz is hoping for a turn around in fortunes at the Nürburgring after suffering back-to-back retirements.

After being caught up in the start-finish straight melee at Mugello in the Tuscan Grand Prix, Sainz then made a costly error when negotiating the turn two bollards at the Sochi Autodrom last time out at the Russian Grand Prix.

"It has been very frustrating," he added. "Obviously, when you do a mistake it is a bit more difficult to digest but after doing a bit of analysis and going through stuff with everyone, I am feeling refreshed for this weekend.

"The whole season has been difficult to build any kind of momentum. There has been some good weekends, some very good performances.

"But other weekends we have been unlucky or things haven't gone our way so I am looking forward to getting some more consistent momentum."

Before you go...

Schumacher has 'nothing to prove' on F1 debut - Leclerc

Time may have healed Red Bull-Renault relationship - Ricciardo

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Mercedes star on brutal disqualification as Lewis Hamilton title chances confirmed: F1 News Recap

• 2 hours ago

F1 star George Russell has 'big flipper feet' and they almost ruined his Mercedes debut

• 3 hours ago

Lewis Hamilton takes Kylie Jenner on a 'birthday ride'

• Yesterday 21:00

F1 star Fernando Alonso cruises around Monaco in ultra-rare $2.3m supercar

• Yesterday 19:45

Ferrari's controversial electric car just sold for a WORLD RECORD price at auction

• Yesterday 18:45

Flavio Briatore delivers verdict on Aston Martin dream team: 'The results are lagging behind'

• Yesterday 17:30