Carlos Sainz Jnr joked he will encourage other Formula 1 drivers to have their appendices removed after winning the first race since his surgery two weeks ago.
The Ferrari driver missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he underwent a laparoscopy after suffering appendicitis. He won his first race back today after qualifying on the front row of the grid and overtaking Max Verstappen when the pole-winner slowed with a brake problem.
Sainz said he “felt really good out there” but said he was relieved it was not the most demanding race.
“Physically it wasn’t the easiest but I was lucky that I was more or less on my own and I could manage my pace, manage the tyres, manage everything and it wasn’t the toughest race of all,” he said. “But I’m very happy and very proud of the team.”
Sainz led Ferrari’s first one-two since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix when he finished second behind Charles Leclerc.
“I’m happy to be in a one-two with Charles here. It shows that the hard work pays off.
“Life sometimes is crazy. What happened at the beginning of the year then the podium in Bahrain, the appendix the comeback, the win it’s a rollercoaster. But I loved it – I’m extremely happy.”
Although Verstappen’s retirement paved the pay for Sainz’s win, he believes he could have taken the fight to the Red Bull driver.
“I felt like I could keep up with him on the first lap and try and take DRS,” he said. “DRS around here is super-powerful.
“Then he lost the car into turn three and there was my chance to get close and attempt an overtake. And then as soon as he was behind, I think he started struggling with the brakes and that was it for him.
“A pity, because we would have had, I think, a very good fight for P1 today. But I’m happy to take the win. He’s had plenty of them. So happy to be back here.”
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