Carlos Sainz, who secured a third-place finish at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and was the last driver to defeat the dominant Red Bull team with a victory in Singapore last September, withdrew from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to a health issue that was diagnosed. The Spaniard was substituted by reserve driver Oliver Bearman, who performed exceptionally well at the Jeddah Corniche circuit. However, Ferrari has confirmed that Sainz will return to the race seat at Albert Park this week. A spokesperson for the team stated, “Carlos has been in Melbourne for two days and is in good condition. We anticipate him driving.”
Sainz will be departing from Ferrari at the end of the season to make room for Mercedes’ seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who will assume his position next year. It remains uncertain where Sainz will end up in 2025, amidst the frenzy of the F1 Silly Season. There have been suggestions that he could lead Audi’s entry into F1 in 2026. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull opens up numerous possibilities for Sainz, including rumored interest from Red Bull and Aston Martin. There is even the potential for a direct swap to Mercedes, replacing Hamilton who is heading to Ferrari.
British teenager Oliver Bearman delivered an extraordinary performance in his F1 debut in Jeddah, finishing in seventh place after starting from the eleventh position on the grid. The Australian Grand Prix, which marks the third round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, will be held at Melbourne’s Albert Park. If everything goes according to plan, Sainz will participate in his 185th GP start on Sunday. (Reporting by Ian Ransom)