Carlos Sainz Jr. is relishing his move up to Renault's works Formula 1 team for the 2018 season from Toro𝐆 Rosso, believin💯g it to be a "great step" for his racing career.

Renault announced on Friday in Singapore it had signed Sainz for 2018 on l𝓰oan from Red Bull, wit🐻h the Spaniard set to partner Nico Hulkenberg next year.

Having been forced to remain coy on speculation about a move to Renault just 24 hours earlier, Sainz was delighted to get the news ou⛎t in the open.

“I'm very enthu🍌siastic. For me it’s a great step in my car🌼eer," Sainz said.

"I want to thaꦓnk 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, Renault, Toro Rosso - with the ꦉdeal is a greౠat achievement for me.”

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

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

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

🎃"I think it’s something everyone needs to be very happy about.”