McLaren's current goal is to finish as Formula 1's top midfield team, according to their new driver Carlos Sainz.
The British outfit finished sixth in the 2018 Constructors' standings, but after struggled to develop their MCL33 chassis during the year, ended the season fighting with Williams at the back of the grid.
CEO Zak Brown has revealed a flaw in the aerodynamic design was discovered during the summer and will be addressed in next year's car but Sainz admits expectations remain limited.
"It depends on what you call competitive," the Spaniard said. “If you call competitive fighting for a world championship, I think as F1 is today it’s very early even for podiums.
“But if a competitive car means trying to lead the middle zone [midfield], I think that is the goal that McLaren has set.
“It doesn’t mean we will do it next year, but it is a goal and I think it is realistic. I will try not to be far away from that,” he added.
There are claims by some that McLaren will look to do that by essentially copying aspects of Red Bull's car, with chief designer Peter Prodromou formerly a partner with Adrian Newey at the Milton Keynes-based squad.
“I think it’s very straightforward to say that the team is copying a chassis,” Sainz responded.
“I’m sure there are ideas from all the teams that McLaren has looked at, but that happens in Formula 1 and in all the categories that I have raced in.”
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Another key component to their overall package will be the performance of the Renault engine, with McLaren now the only team as a customer to the French manufacturer.
“I am convinced that Renault gives the same weapons to McLaren that they give for their own cars," Sainz commented.
“I’m not worried for next year that we will not have good equipment.”
