Carlos Sainz Jr. is relishing his move up to Rena🀅ult's works Formula 1 team for the 2018 season 🍰from Toro Rosso, believing it to be a "great step" for his racing career.

Renault announced on Friday in Singapore it had signed Sainz for 2018 on loan from Red B🏅ull, with the Spaniard set to partner Nico Hulkenberg next year.

Having been forced to remain coy ꦬon speculation about a move to Renault j𝕴ust 24 hours earlier, Sainz was delighted to get the news out in the open.

“I'm very enthusiastic. For me it’s a great ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚstep in my career," Sainz said.

"I want🐻 to thank Renault for trusting in me. This comes from a really long way back in 2016 when they first spotted me and they wanted me to go to the team.

"To finally make it happen and to have everyone happy - Red Bull, Renau🐭lt, Toro Rosso - with the deal is a great🍎 achievement for me.”

Despite having been on Renault's shortlist for over a year, Sainz said the deal accelerated only in the last few weeks as part of 𝔍the wider set of talks including McLaren and Ho𓆉nda.

"I knew I𒉰 had the probability, but a big probability just in the last month when everything started to happen as y𒈔ou might know," Sainz said.

"So it has been on my radar for sure for a long time but finally thi🧸s last month everything has developed, everyone has agreed to what I think is a positivꦿe deal for everyone involved.

"I think i🦂t’s something everyone needs to be very happy about.”