Analysing their options for 2019, Carlos Sainz “showed well” against his Formula 1 team-mates prompting McLaren to sign him.

Sainz will move from Renault to McLaren at the end of this season after signing a two-year deal with the Woking team.

The Spaniard was one of several drivers on McLaren’s short list along with Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon and Lando Norris.

The team spent months looking at their options, including each drivers’ head-to-head against their team-mates, before deciding on Sainz.

Although Sainz has only outscored a team-mate once in Formula 1, he has battled against teenage sensation Max Verstappen and the highly-rated Nico Hulkenberg.