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Sainz: Getting up to speed with Renault will take time

Carlos Sainz Jr. isn't expecting to be on the pace immediately with Renault as he prepares to make his debut in Austin.

Carlos Sainz Jr. expects to take some time getting up to speed with Renault as he prepares to make his first Formula 1 start with the French manufacturer at this weekend's United States Grand Prix.

Sainz was confirmed to be joining Renault for 2018 last month, only for the team to hasten his arrival and confirm over the Japanese Grand Prix weekend the Spaniard would be joining for the final four races of the season, replacing Jolyon Palmer.

Having spent the entirety of his F1 career so far with Toro Rosso, Sainz said he expects to take some time getting up to speed compared to new teammate Nico Hulkenberg, given his first taste of the Renault R.S.17 car will come in Friday practice at the Circuit of The Americas.

"It's going to be difficult because I have been for 16 races driving a car, [Hulkenberg] has been 16 races driving a car I haven't driven. So it will take a bit of time to adapt to it," Sainz said.

"Obviously I want to do it as quick as possible but I'm convinced it will take a bit of time of adaptation. My target is to be on the pace as quick as possible but that does not come for free, it will take a lot of hard work, a lot of data analysis, a lot of understanding with the engineers how to drive the car and the car requirements, etc. Then if it happens, it happens."

While Sainz would have been happy to see out the season with Toro Rosso as originally planned, the Spaniard is relishing the opportunity to get up to speed early with Renault ahead of 2018.

"I wouldn't have minded finishing this season with Toro Rosso, but this opportunity gives me a chance to get to know everyone inside the team, get to know my engineers, start to adapt myself to the car and the car to myself," Sainz said.

"From there start a baseline that hopefully these next four races will help for next year. And if I can also help the team score some points that would be amazing."

Zdroj: crash.net