Carlos Sainz has responded to comments by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko by stating McLaren is "better prepared" for the 2019 season.
In the wake of pre-season testing, the Austrian made his predictions and declared that the British team will be "at the back" battling with Williams for the second straight year.
This is despite what was McLaren's best winter for some time as they look to make progress back towards the front of the midfield pack.
“I respect his predictions, but I know where we are, which is pretty much where we were last year," Sainz was quoted by F1i.com as saying at a sponsor event this week.
“All I can say is that we did more laps than in any other year, to say whether we’ll be sixth or ninth is impossible.
“But we are going to Australia better prepared than in previous years.”
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The former Renault driver did highlight one team to watch in the midfield this year when making his own prediction.
“Last year I felt that Haas was ahead of the midfield, and they could surprise," he said. “But the others are close, regardless of the simulations, and are hiding tenths.”
