Ferrari provide update on Carloz Sainz ahead of Australian Grand Prix
The Spaniard was absent from the previous race in Jeddah
Ferrari have provided an update on Carlos Sainz’s health ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, following the Spaniard's absence from the previous race in Jeddah.
Sainz was withdrawn from the F1 weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Friday morning due to appendicitis, which required surgery.
In his place, 18-year-old Ferrari reserve driver Ollie Bearman stepped in, delivering an impressive performance to secure P7 in the race. This led many observers, including F1.com columnist Guenther Steiner and Sainz’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, to suggest that Bearman has the potential to become a future F1 star.
However, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Ferrari confirmed that Sainz is expected to return to the cockpit of the SF-24 at the Albert Park Circuit. Bearman will remain on standby as a reserve driver, alongside his Formula 2 commitments with PREMA Racing in Melbourne this weekend.
Into his place stepped 18-year-old Ferrari reserve driver Ollie Bearman, who caused a sensation with his assured stand-in performance to net P7 in the race, causing many observers – including F1.com columnist Guenther Steiner and Sainz’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc – to remark that the Briton had all the makings of an F1 star of the future.
However, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Ferrari confirmed that Sainz was looking likely to return to the cockpit of the SF-24 around the Albert Park Circuit – with Bearman remaining on call as reserve driver, alongside his Formula 2 duties with PREMA racing in Melbourne this weekend.
Team Principal Fred Vasseur, meanwhile, predicted that Ferrari would be “front runners” at the Australian circuit, with the team having provided the sternest challenge so far to Red Bull in 2024 – Sainz finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Bahrain, before Leclerc took that position in Saudi Arabia.
“The Albert Park track is a favourite with the drivers and one where Ferrari has always enjoyed a lot of support,” said Vasseur. “We expect to be front runners on this track which could produce a similar pecking order to the one seen in Jeddah.
“We intend adopting an aggressive approach with the aim of putting pressure on the team [Red Bull] that’s won the first two races.”
Bearman will be keen to kick-start his F2 campaign in Australia, the Briton on zero points in the standings (compared to his six points in F1) after failing to score in Bahrain, before being withdrawn from the event in Jeddah for his super-sub performance with Ferrari.
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