If Carlos Sainz is unable to race, Oliver Bearman is once again set to serve as the reserve for the Maranello team in Melbourne alongside his F2 commitments.
Sainz fell ill during the early stages of the Jeddah event, and it was confirmed on Friday morning that he had appendicitis, forcing him to sit out the race and granting Bearman the opportunity for his sensational F1 debut.
Following an immediate operation, Sainz bravely attended Saturday’s race, albeit moving cautiously. He then returned to Europe on Sunday, with all attention now focused on his recovery for the upcoming race in Australia.
“I don’t know, honestly,” stated Vasseur when asked about Sainz’s potential return after the Jeddah race. “The recovery so far is amazing. The fact that he was able to be with the team today is a very positive sign and a great support for us. Now, he will fly back with me tomorrow and have a week of complete rest, and we will decide when he can fly to Melbourne in a week. But I’m quite optimistic.”
While Alex Albon showcased a quick recovery from a similar operation by returning for the 2022 Singapore GP after missing the previous race in Italy, each individual’s situation varies.
Sainz faces the added challenge of a grueling 24-hour flight to Australia, coupled with the necessity to acclimate to the time zone change as early as possible. Despite the challenges, the plan is for him to travel this weekend and make a final decision before track activities commence on Friday.
Reflecting on Sainz’s courageous efforts during practice in Jeddah, Vasseur remarked, “I think it’s a characteristic of the family! When he didn’t feel well on Thursday morning, he still attempted laps in the full session. Even in the afternoon, it was the same. His performance was commendable, given his condition. Now, our focus is on Carlos’s recovery. The priority is not to rush but to ensure proper recovery.”
“It’s a significant recuperation process, and our attention now shifts to Melbourne. He needs adequate rest this week, and we’ll reassess next week,” Vasseur said.
Also read: Impressive F1 Debut Sees Oliver Bearman Secure Seventh Place
