page_title: Carlos Sainz Jr.
section_title: McLaren (2019–2020)
hierarchical_section_title: Carlos Sainz Jr. / Career / Formula One / McLaren (2019–2020)
caption_attribution_description: English: Carlos Sainz, 2019 Chinese GP
context_page_description: Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro, otherwise known as Carlos Sainz Jr. or simply Carlos Sainz, is a Spanish racing driver currently racing in Formula One for McLaren, racing under the Spanish flag. He is the son of double World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz and also the nephew of rally driver Antonio Sainz. In 2012 Sainz raced in the British and European Formula 3 championships for Carlin. He raced for DAMS in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2014 winning the championship before moving to F1 with Toro Rosso.
  Sainz moved to McLaren for the 2019 season, to replace Fernando Alonso, who had left F1 while at the same time ending his contract with Red Bull Racing. At the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix Sainz took his maiden Formula One podium finish with third. Sainz has signed with Ferrari to drive in 2021 to replace Sebastian Vettel.
context_section_description: 2019
  On 16 August 2018, it was announced that Sainz would be racing for McLaren for the 2019 season, replacing Fernando Alonso, who had retired following the 2018 season. After an unlucky pointless start to the season due to reliability issues at the Australian Grand Prix 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. At the Brazilian Grand Prix, 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.
  2020
  Sainz began the season with a fifth place followed by a ninth place at the Austrian and Styrian Grands Prix. At the latter, he qualified in third, his best career qualifying result; and finished with his first fastest lap in Formula One and in doing so set a new Red Bull Ring track record.
  He did not start the Belgian Grand Prix due to an exhaust failure before the race.
caption: Sainz at the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix
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