Carlos Sainz Jr to replace Fernando Alonso in McLaren F1 team
Just a day after Fernando Alonso’s announcement that he will leave McLaren and Formula One in 2019, another Spaniard has been announced as his replacement – Carlos Sainz Jr.
McLaren Racing today confirms that Carlos Sainz Jr will race for the team from the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship. The 23-year-old racer, a son of the multiple world rally champion Carlos Sainz, has signed a multi-year deal with the team. The season 2019 would be his fifth in Formula One, after almost three years with Toro Rosso and a move to Renault during the 2017 season.
Carlos Sainz Jr
Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Racing, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to have Carlos join us as a McLaren driver. We’ve been assessing him for some time now and rate him very highly among the next generation of young talent emerging through the ranks in Formula 1. Carlos brings with him the perfect blend of youth and experience. Although he’s just 23, he’ll be starting his fifth season in the sport with us and will bring with him a huge amount of racing experience, both in Formula 1 and with our partner Renault.
“It’s no secret that Carlos is a huge admirer of Fernando’s, and it’s fitting that he will be stepping into his seat as a Spaniard with a legendary name in motorsport. We think he’ll be a great fit for McLaren and we’re really excited to have him join us from next season and beyond.”
“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 fulfill 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,” Carlos Sainz added.
