Carlos Sainz Jr: Formula Renault 3.5 still a four-way title fight
Formula Renault 3.5 championship leader Carlos Sainz Jr believes the title battle is a four-way fight rather than a head-to-head between him and the on-form Roberto Merhi
Sainz's championship lead was slashed to just 16 points with two weekends remaining last time out in Hungary, as Merhi continued a run of form that has enabled him to outscore his fellow Spaniard by 70 points over the last three events.
But the points leader believes that Formula Renault Eurocup graduates Pierre Gasly and Oliver Rowland, who sit 41 and 54 points behind respectively with 100 still on the table, can both still factor in the title fight.
"Of course Roberto is coming strong, but I think Rowland can have a very nice end of the season, as well as Pierre," Sainz told AUTOSPORT.
"When you are a rookie the second half of the season is easier, so we need to keep an eye on them.
"This championship has a lot of talent, so there is a lot to fight for. We need one or two more wins before the season ends."
The penultimate round of the FR3.5 season takes place at Paul Ricard this weekend, and Sainz - who raced for Merhi's Zeta Corse team last year - believes that he can turn the tables in the championship fight in France.
"Paul Ricard should be better for us," he added. "I like that track and I think we can be fast there.
"Zeta like twisty tracks, and that is what we have had recently [Nurburgring, Moscow, Hungaroring]. I think Paul Ricard and Jerez will be different."
The Red Bull junior believes that the series' two-month summer break ahead of the previous round in Hungary effectively turned the final rounds into a mini-season of their own.
"To have such a long break is a bit too much, it was like starting again [in Hungary]," he said.
"Everyone has reset and we've started a new season - a three-race sprint for the title.
"Many people thought that I already had it won, especially over the summer. I always knew that wasn't the case."
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