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Carlos Sainz Jr. Withdraws from Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Due to Appendicitis
Carlos Sainz Jr. has been ruled out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after being diagnosed with appendicitis, Ferrari announced on Friday. The Spanish driver will require surgery, forcing him to miss the remainder of the race weekend.
Oliver Bearman Makes Formula 1 Debut
To replace Sainz, Ferrari has elevated 18-year-old Oliver Bearman to make his Formula 1 debut. Bearman, Ferrari’s British reserve driver who typically competes in Formula 2, will start his F1 career beginning with Friday’s third practice session.
Bearman is poised to become the third-youngest driver to participate in an F1 race, trailing only Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll who debuted at ages 17 and 18, respectively. If he competes in Saturday’s Grand Prix, Bearman will become the youngest driver to race for Ferrari, surpassing the record set in 1961 by Ricardo Rodríguez, who was 19 during his appearance at the Italian Grand Prix.
While Bearman was initially set to compete in the Formula 2 event where he secured pole position, his focus is now solely on his unexpected opportunity in Formula 1 due to Sainz’s health setback.
Sainz’s Struggle and Return Timeline
Before his diagnosis, Sainz participated in both practice sessions on Thursday in Saudi Arabia, posting the sixth and seventh-fastest times. However, he expressed feeling unwell and acknowledged its impact on his performance. In a statement, Sainz described the past 24 hours as challenging and emphasized the need to learn from the car while managing his physical condition.
Sainz’s anticipated return to F1 competition is slated for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 24, where he aims to resume his racing duties with Ferrari following his recovery from appendicitis.
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