The Australian Grand Prix will take place at the Albert Park circuit this weekend and Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has revealed that Ollie Bearman will be on hand to jump into Sainz’s car if needed. The F2 driver was called up to the F1 team at the Saudi Arabian GP from Friday’s sessions after Sainz became unwell.
Sainz participated in the Thursday practice sessions despite feeling unwell and he described it as one of his “toughest days in a Formula 1 car”. On Friday morning Ferrari then announced the Spaniard would not race after suffering from appendicitis, which required immediate surgery.
The team then confirmed later in the day that he had safely made it through surgery and the following day Sainz was seen back in the paddock to watch the grand prix.
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Carlos Sainz has flown to Melbourne ahead of this weekend’s grand prix and is expected to drive his Ferrari in the race. Following the race in Jeddah, team boss Vasseur said he “didn’t know” if Sainz would be ready for a potential return this weekend but he was “quite optimistic”, adding: “The recovery so far is amazing, the fact he was able to come today to be with the team is a good sign, and a very good support for us.
Vasseur also told Sky Germany that they are taking the Spaniard’s recovery on a “step by step” basis and that a decision on whether Sainz will compete will be made this week.
On Thursday, the Ferrari driver will undergo a mandatory medical evaluation by the FIA, including an extraction exercise to ensure he is fit to drive at the weekend. The extraction test will require him to unbuckle himself and remove the steering wheel within seven seconds before being given another five seconds to exit the car and put the wheel back in its place.
Ferrari said on Wednesday: “Carlos Sainz is expected to be back in the car, having had to miss Jeddah with appendicitis and he and team-mate Charles Leclerc will most likely be fighting at the front of the field, as they have done in the first two rounds.”
Oliver Bearman, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
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