McLaren understand the "allure" of Ferrari to Sainz

Carlos Sainz will be missed by McLaren, according to CEO Zak Brown, but he can appreciate why the Spaniard has opted to join Formula 1 rivals Ferrari.

The Scuderia caused a stir last week when they announced Sebastian Vettel would be leaving the team at the end of this season, and then 36 hours later confirming Sainz as the four-time champion's replacement.

Although Sainz had found what he often described as 'a home' at a McLaren team on the rise again, the 25-year-old was unable to pass up the opportunity of joining Ferrari.

"I get the allure of why he has made the decision he has," Brown told SkySports F1. "It's created a great opportunity for us, but I think it shows you can part ways and maintain great relationships if you have a great relationship.

"When you look historically at how a lot of drivers move around, it comes at the end of a fallout with their team, which is unfortunate.

"But I think at McLaren we've done a really good job of creating a good environment for our drivers, team members, so people want to race for McLaren, and when they leave they are a bit sad about that, but I think he's going to have great success there."

Sainz's sadness extended to a video of his own making he entitled 'Dear McLaren Family', expressing how much he would miss the team even though he has only spent less than 18 months with them.

His performances last year enabled McLaren to finish fourth in the constructors' championship, the team's best finish since 2012, while he was a superb sixth.

"We owe him quite a bit," Brown added. "We did this together. Obviously, Carlos and Lando [Norris] played a big role in our improvement as a team, so we will miss Carlo. He's family, his family is family.

"He's a great human being, a great driver, everyone around him are great people. The video he did, he did on his own. That was something we weren't aware of, this kind of 'sad to go', and I think he genuinely is."

Before you go...

Ferrari mistaken in thinking Sainz won't give Leclerc "a run for his money"

Hamilton: "I could be Superman under that helmet if I wanted to be"

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