Carlos Sainz Jr of Ferrari returned to the paddock the day after undergoing surgery for appendicitis. This occurred on 09.03.2024 during the Formula 1 World Championship, specifically the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Race Day.
Frederic Vasseur, the boss of Ferrari Formula 1, expressed optimism regarding Carlos Sainz’s ability to participate in the Australian Grand Prix. However, the final decision will be made next week.
Carlos Sainz’s media obligations leading up to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were canceled due to his illness. Despite this, he chose to participate in the opening practice sessions. Prior to FP3, it was announced that Sainz had been diagnosed with appendicitis and would need to undergo surgery, preventing him from competing in Jeddah.
Carlos Sainz’s absence unexpectedly provided Oliver Bearman with the opportunity to make his F1 debut. The British newcomer performed exceptionally well, securing a seventh-place finish.
Reflecting on the events of the weekend, Frederic Vasseur admits that Ferrari was unaware of the severity of Sainz’s illness until he visited the hospital.
“It was a peculiar situation,” Vasseur recalled. “At the beginning of the weekend, we believed it was food poisoning. He struggled during both sessions on Thursday, experiencing fever and stomach problems. He was convinced that he would feel much better the following day.
“However, the next day, he called me in the morning to inform me that he would probably miss FP3. He assured me that he would be there for qualifying and, by 11:30, he was in the hospital. It became clear that we were not heading in the right direction. Thanks to the hospital in Jeddah and everyone involved in the organization, the surgery took place yesterday, Friday.
“I visited him this morning, and he was completely fine. He was present today, although he experienced pain. He is attempting to walk, but his recovery is significant. Now, our focus is on Melbourne. He needs to have a smooth recovery this week, and we will see what happens next.”
Vasseur believes that Sainz’s presence at the race was a positive development, and Ferrari will give him enough time to determine when he can return to action. When asked about Sainz’s recovery timeline, Vasseur admitted that he didn’t have that information. However, he expressed his satisfaction with Sainz’s progress so far, stating that the fact that he was able to join the team for the race was a promising sign and a great support for them. Vasseur added that they will fly back together the following day and take a week of complete rest before deciding when Sainz should travel to Melbourne. Despite the uncertainty, Vasseur remained optimistic about the situation.
Vasseur praised Sainz for his initial attempt to push through the pain at the fast-paced Jeddah track, highlighting his impressive performance given the circumstances. The Frenchman mentioned that it’s probably a characteristic of the Sainz family that he couldn’t convince Carlos to step out of the car. When Sainz arrived on Thursday morning and didn’t feel well, he decided to give it a try and ended up completing the full session in the afternoon. Vasseur emphasized how amazing it was that Sainz managed to perform so well despite feeling completely drained just half an hour after the session. He also mentioned that Sainz had a very decent pace in both FP1 and FP2, even being able to do a long stint, which was truly remarkable. However, Vasseur reiterated the importance of focusing on Sainz’s future and prioritizing his recovery over pushing him to perform. He expressed his desire for Sainz to take the necessary time to recover properly and make the right decision for himself, acknowledging that Sainz is an adult capable of making that choice.