McLaren took two races to fully exploit the major upgrade package it introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix, says Carlos Sainz Jnr.

The new package introduced at the Circuit de Catalunya included a reshaped front wing, revised barge boards and engine cover. Sainz credited the upgrade for the team’s improving form which saw them score points with both cars in the last two races.

“The feedback we’ve been giving the team since the beginning of the season has led the team to bring upgrades that suit the car better,” said Sainz in response to a question from RaceFans. “Those upgrades made the car balance and the through-corner balance definitely better.

“We’ve seen the progress recently. There was quite a big upgrade in Spain that we didn’t manage to exploit that well in Spain and Monaco. But since Canada I think we understand it a bit better and it’s a bit more consistent and we can more-or-less exploit in different tracks.”

Sainz and team mate Lando Norris have increasingly been able to qualify the car inside the top 10. “The drivers pushing each other just makes the optimum lap time better at the end of qualifying,” he said.

“When you have a strong team mate you always find corners where you can improve, corners where the other guy can improve and it makes both go forward. It’s a combination of both things the factory is doing an amazing job to respond to what we need. We just need to keep that going and make sure next year’s car is another step.”

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2019 F1 season