In a last-minute call before the third Free Practice in Saudi Arabia, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was ruled out of the event after being diagnosed with appendicitis. Sainz required surgery to remove his appendix and got back to his F1 paddock within a day of his surgery, suggesting that his appendix was probably not ruptured. But will he be healthy enough to compete at the Australian Grand Prix?

Although Sainz showing up at his F1 paddock a day after surgery is good news, Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur is treading with caution as he hopes for a full recovery before the Spaniard can return to the track.

It is a huge recovery, and we have to be focused on Melbourne. He will have a good rest this week and we will see [if he races in Australia.] I don’t want to rush anything, he is an adult and will take the right decision,“ Sports Illustrated quoted Vasseur.

The recovery period post-surgery for appendicitis generally ranges from 2 to 4 weeks, but it can be longer if the appendix has burst. Sainz had his surgery on March 9 and the qualifying for Australian GP starts on March 23. He has already arrived in Melbourne but will need to clear the FIA medical tests which are slated for Thursday, if Ferrari wants to hand him the reigns back from Oliver Bearman.

On Thursday at Albert Park, the 29-year-old is due for the FIA’s mandatory medical evaluations, which include a crucial driver extraction exercise. This test is quite demanding as it requires the driver to unbuckle the safety harness, remove the steering wheel within seven seconds, exit the car, and then return the wheel to its position within another five seconds.

Thus it will put pressure on Sainz’s abdominal/groin area affected by the recent surgery and will reveal if he has any level of discomfort. Following his sudden withdrawal from the Saudi Arabian GP, Ferrari’s reserve driver Oliver Bearman, stepped up to the occasion and may get a chance to race again in Australia. But Bearman is hoping to see Sainz back for the GP Down Under.

Bearman hopes to see Sainz back on the track

After Sainz’s unexpected and sudden departure from the Saudi Arabian GP, young British driver Oliver Bearman was handed his F1 debut by Ferrari. A promising driver for Prema in Formula 2, Bearman impressed in his first F1 outing under trying circumstances.

He earned six points on his debut with an impressive seventh-place finish and could be in line to race in Melbourne in case, Sainz isn’t cleared by FIA. According to F1 Naija on X, Bearman “expressed his desire for Sainz’s swift recovery and emphasized that the car rightfully belongs to Sainz.” 

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An anxious wait now follows for Ferrari and Sainz’s fans as they hope the Spaniard is able to clear the crucial FIA medical examination ahead of the weekend’s race.

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