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On Friday, March 8, the Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, who was unwell for the last two days, got ruled out of the Saudi Arabian GP after being diagnosed with appendicitis. The 29-year-old will undergo surgery for his condition and be replaced by the reserve driver Oliver Bearman for the remainder of the F1 race weekend at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
After skipping the pre-weekend media duties in Jeddah, Carlos Sainz, who had a podium in the first race of the 2024 season in Sakhir, took part in the FP1 and FP2 sessions yesterday. He said that the practice sessions on Thursday, March 7, were “one of my toughest days in a Formula 1 car,” while battling his sickness.
The statement from Ferrari about the matter read, “Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery. As from FP3 and for the rest of this weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman. Oliver will therefore take no further part in this round of the F2 Championship. The Ferrari family wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.”
Oliver Bearman to replace Carlos Sainz in Ferrari at Saudi Arabian GP
Oliver Bearman is set to replace the surgery-bound Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian GP, with the experience of driving an F1 car for the first time last year, to help Hass prepare for FP1 at the Mexican and Abu Dhabi GPs. Since then, the British driver has been on several test runs in the F1 with Ferrari.
After finishing in sixth place for the Prema Racing Team in the F2 last year, he claimed a pole position in Jeddah after a tough outing in Sakhir last race weekend. But now, he won’t be taking part in the F2 race weekend to fulfil his responsibilities of driving the Ferrari car in the F1 at the Saudi Arabian GP.
