Sainz starts P7: ‘Yellow suits me so far!’

Debutant Carlos Sainz is loving his start to life at Renault after a very encouraging qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas.

Nico Hulkenberg was out-qualified for the first time this season – he did not run in Q2 however due to an impending grid penalty – and Sainz will move up a place on the grid to P7 because of Max Verstappen's grid drop.

"Yellow suits me so far, yes! I can be pleased with how everything has gone," Sainz said.

"I think we can be very proud, my side of the garage they've helped me a lot with this new challenge.

"Today was not easy, the wind picking up, the track temp going up, to see how the car was going to react in Q1 to those changes after an engine change before qualifying which I think made everything a bit more rushed.

"It was a very good reaction, very good first days with yellow. I can be very proud, yes."

Sainz has also described the differences between his old Toro Rosso car and his new R.S.17.

"It requires a different driving style, a different reaction to the wind, with track temp, different brake pedal, different power steering. Everything is different," Sainz said.

"But during my life, I've always liked adapting to new cars and I've always enjoyed it. I've always gone into it with a very positive mindset to these kind of challenges.

"So far it's helping me, and the guys in the garage are helping me to adapt, and it's been a very good start for all of us."