Sainz moved to McLaren for the season, replacing Fernando Alonso, who had retired following the season and partnering Lando Norris. After an unlucky pointless start to the season due to reliability issues at the and being involved in collisions at the Bahrain and Chinese Grands Prix, Sainz consistently scored points thereafter, often finishing strongly as the best of the rest behind the top three teams. He fought for sixth place in the drivers' championship with Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon, who both spent part of the season in a much faster Red Bull. At the , Sainz was initially classified 4th, having started in 20th and last place following an engine problem in qualifying, but was elevated to 3rd after Lewis Hamilton received a penalty for causing a collision with Alexander Albon, earning Sainz his first podium in Formula One. Sainz has nearly doubled his points total from his previous best season, 2017. At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sainz managed to pass Hülkenberg on the final lap to take 10th place, scoring a point that earned him 6th place in the drivers' championship at the end of the year.