Carlos Sainz Jr says he ha🥃s “a lot of information to analyse” ov﷽er the winter ahead of his switch to the McLaren Formula 1 team for 2019.

Having helped Renault secure fourth place in the constructors’ championship at the 2018 Abu Dhabi season finale, the Spaniard, who will replace fellow countryman Fernando Alonso at M🐟cLaren for 2019, made his first appearance for his new team at post-season testing, describi🎃ng his McLaren test debut as “a dream come true”.

Sainz ended the second and final day of the Pirelli tyre test with 1ꦚ50 laps to his nam🌄e and set the fifth-fastest time in McLaren’s Renault-powered MCL33.

“Aft🎃er the race finished in Ab🐽u Dhabi, we’ve been full steam ahead on 2019,” Sainz said.

“I’ve been learning names of my new colleagues, how the car works, ❀how the system works, also building relationships with the engineers - and that has gone all to plan.

“Thanks to the 150 laps I d♒id at the test, I can go into winter with a lot of information to analyse.

“Everything♛ felt at home, since the moment I jumped in, everything felt🔯 really, really good.

“I can’t complain. It has been a great few days and thanksꦑ to the mechanics a𒅌nd engineers who made me feel like I’m at home.”

The test also provided Sainz with the chance to link up with 2019 teammate Lando Norris for the fir🌠st time, and he revealed the relationship had started “smoothly”.

“Seeing him drive on Day 1 of the Abu Dhabi test h⛎elped me to see how the team was operating,” Sainz added.

“And then it was my turn, and we have already shared a coupl♏e of comments about the car, about the balance, about what we need for next year.

“It’s going smoothly so far.”

Sainz said he will return home to have a break over the Christmas period after spending some time at McLaren’s Woking🐬 headquarters to get familiar to his new 🌃surroundings and colleagues.

“l’⛦ll be going home in mid-December to get a bit of a break over Christmas and New Year’s Eve,” he exp🅺lained.

“Un🌠til then, still a bit of hard work to do, but we’ll have some fun at the factory too.

“We’re planning on doing some go-karting races with the mechanics and s🔜tuff to get to know each other. It’ll be a fun few days - but still working and pushing hard.”