Ferrari has confirmed that despite Carlos Sainz Jr‘s remarkable performance in the first race of the 2024 season, he will not participate in the Saudi Arabian GP.
The team announced via a social media post this Friday that Sainz Jr will undergo surgery for appendicitis after tests conducted at the hospital revealed its necessity.
Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery.
As from FP3 and for the rest of this weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman. Oliver will therefore take no further part in this round of the F2 Championship.
The Ferrari family… pic.twitter.com/zePBeZlJED
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 8, 2024
Despite showing indications of not being well on Thursday, Sainz completed all three practice sessions.
Read more:F1 season 2024: New to Formula 1 Weekends? Here’s Your Go-To FAQ Guide
However, his condition worsened, advising he to visit the hospital to prevent any serious issues. The tests confirmed Sainz’s diagnosis of appendicitis, necessitating surgery.
With fans eagerly wondering who will step into Sainz’s seat for the Saudi Arabia GP, Ferrari addressed the question on their social media platforms.
They announced that Ferrari’s protege and British driver, Oliver Bearman, who clinched the pole position in F2 on the same day, will take over Sainz’s seat. Now, let’s delve into who Oliver Bearman is.
Who is Oliver Bearman and Why was He Given Sainz’s Seat for the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP?
At only 18 years old, Bearman stands out as one of Formula 2’s most promising talents, with a bright future predicted for him.
Many expect him to join Haas as a driver in 2025. Bearman was supposed to begin this weekend’s F2 round in Saudi Arabia from the pole position.
The Briton showed outstanding performances in his rookie season, securing four victories as he finished sixth in the championship.
Also read:Who Won The First Ever Formula One World Championship?
While he lacked consistent performance overall, many noticed his impressive speed, especially considering he’s a rookie.
Bearman is expected to become Britain’s next F1 superstar, and by debuting with Ferrari, he has a great chance to prove himself. However, due to his commitments in F1, Bearman will not be able to participate in both F2 races in Saudi Arabia which means Khush Maini from India, who races in Formula 2, will start P1 due to the absence of Oliver.
Gaurang is a writer at the SportsOrbit covering articles related to F1,Gaurang was 14 when he cared more about playing football than studying. But when COVID hit and he had to stay home, he discovered Formula 1. It immediately caught his interest. Since then, he’s been really into Formula 1, watching every race and learning all about it. He still loves football, but now he’s also a big fan of Formula 1, especially Lewis Hamilton. Even though he loves racing, he still looks up to Cristiano Ronaldo as his idol.