Sainz had a positive start to the season scoring in five of the first six races but he finished behind his teammate Nico Hülkenberg in each of the four races they both finished. In Azerbaijan Sainz finished in a season high position of fifth. He would finish the season in tenth place on 53 points, 3 places and 16 points behind teammate Hülkenberg scoring points in 13 races out of the 19 races he finished.