Carlos Sainz Jr. says McLaren should “fear everyone” in Formula 1 next year as “anyone” could lead the midfield battle.
Formula 1’s leading three teams – Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull – held a substantial advantage over the remainder of the grid, which was led by the Renault team for which Sainz Jr. competed.
Renault was challenged by Haas for much of the campaign as McLaren finished sixth, ahead of the Force India squad that was the only non-top three team to score a podium.
Sauber, meanwhile, was one of the most improved teams through the course of the campaign, the Honda-powered Toro Rosso cars showed flashes of pace, and Williams is striving to recover from a dismal season.
Sainz Jr., who linked up with his new team for the first time during last month’s Abu Dhabi test, pointed to Sauber’s progress as cause for keeping an eye on every other operation.
“If they are actually now the strongest midfield team, I think we should all fear them,” Sainz Jr. said.
“But next year we should fear everyone.
“You think about Sauber, but then you think about Force India with a bit more budget, what they could be capable of.
“You think about Renault, what they are able to do.
“You think about Haas, if they keep getting the amount of Ferrari parts that they are getting and Ferrari keeps dominating [engine development], they should be also very strong.
“You think about McLaren with a whole new project and wanting to invest and wanting to go back to P4 in the championship after a difficult year.
“You think about all these teams, and you think anyone could lead the midfield battle next year.
“What I really hope is that the space between midfield and the top teams gets a bit more close, and we have a bit more exciting racing.
“Then who comes out on top, we will see. It’s about the one who gets the new regs better.”
Sainz Jr. also urged Renault to accelerate its engine development if it, and his McLaren team, is to keep pace in the midfield group.
“I need Renault next year, for them to think about the engine and really make a step,” he said.
“If not, Mercedes and Ferrari, even Honda, they’re going to keep evolving and creating this gap which is very difficult to cut back.
“It’s difficult to say, but I really hope this situation starts getting a bit better and we have a closer field.”
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