Sainz not disappointed in Toro Rosso decision

The Spaniard emerged as one of the candidates that Renault wanted on board for 2017 as it bids to push forward with its work effort.

But, despite sounding out Sainz’s Red Bull bosses about the possibility, it has been made clear that Sainz will not be released from his Toro Rosso contract.

Although that means Sainz may miss out on the chance of a prime seat at a manufacturer team, the Spaniard said at the Malaysian Grand Prix that he was actually happy with the situation – because the interest in him was a boost.

Asked about the Renault interest, Sainz said: “Sure there has been a bit of interest, a bit of contact – which for me at the end has to be an honour that a manufacturer team is worried about me and wants to know my contractual situation.

“But as you know, more or less, what is going on with Red Bull is they guide your career. They paid for five years of my junior series, that is millions of euros, and I perfectly understand they don’t want to let me go after spending so much money on me and now, being in the best moment of my life, my career.

“For me it is an honour to have an interest from a manufacturer team that wants me to develop the car, to create a good base for the future.

"But at the end, my main target as I always say, is to be not in 2017 but in 2018, fighting for a world championship and hopefully that will be with Red Bull. That will be my main target."

Sainz said the speculation about his future has not served as a distraction to his efforts at Toro Rosso, and he has faith the Faenza-based outfit can deliver in 2017.

“I think if it would be destabilising me I would prefer not to talk about it, but it is something that I enjoy, something I welcome, and I will keep doing my job as I have been doing the last whole year,” he said.

“I have full trust in Toro Rosso knowing that they are going to produce a good chassis for next year. If there was any kind of doubt, Singapore proved that Toro Rosso is the third or fourth best chassis on the grid. 

"Even on a short straight like Singapore we were 12-14km/h down, but still we were qualifying P6, only one second off a Red Bull. So it shows the car is good, the car performs in cornering.”

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