Carlos Sainz has been dealing with health issues since arriving in Saudi Arabia.
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz (Imago)
Everyone was looking forward to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In the first race of the season, the Spanish driver delivered an exceptional performance and secured a spot on the podium in third place. Last season, Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to clinch a victory in all 22 races.
This year started with devastating news for Sainz as he will be joining Ferrari in 2025. The 29-year-old driver was trying to renew his contract with the team, but fate had other plans for him.
Upon arriving in Jeddah, Sainz took part in the practice sessions, but before qualifying, he started feeling unwell. After a few hours, it was revealed that the Spanish driver had appendicitis and needed to undergo surgery. While everyone wishes him a speedy recovery, Alex Albon had a unique way of expressing his well wishes. The Williams driver took to social media and posted the following message:
Get well soon, @Carlossainz55, I know a skilled surgeon if you need one.
Without a contract for next year, this season is of utmost importance for Sainz. The recent incident has only made his progress more challenging. Many teams are considering Sainz for the upcoming season. We hope he recovers from surgery soon and starts feeling better.
Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis before the Saudi Arabian GP, which forced him to withdraw from the race this weekend. Prior to that, Sainz had taken part in the practice sessions. With Sainz out of the running, Ferrari needed a substitute driver for the weekend.
For the next racing weekend, Ferrari has selected their reserve driver. The young British driver will take Sainz’s place in the race and therefore will not compete in F2 for the remainder of the weekend.
The 18-year-old made his F1 debut (FP1) with Haas in 2023. Currently, he serves as a reserve driver for Ferrari and Haas. In Saudi Arabia, he started the qualifying round in pole position. Berman will make his F1 debut as the youngest driver for Ferrari and the third youngest in the category.
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