Carlos Sainz expects McLaren to improve after Formula 1’s summer break but he doubts they will be able to challenge for wins. McLaren struggled last season but they are on course for fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship this term with 82 points, 39 clear of Toro Rosso in fifth.
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However, Sainz says closing the gap on the three teams above them – Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull – is an unrealistic goal for McLaren during the current campaign. “I don’t think we are going to be able to break out of the midfield in the second half of the season,” he told Motorsport.com.
“We might bring a few tenths to the car which will be great, but everyone else is going to bring them, so we need to be careful. “What we need to make sure is that we learn the right steps to do on the car this year and learn them for next year. That is the main target for the second half of this season: learn about this car to make sure that we put all the things in the right place for next year’s car.”
