Formula 1 Star Carlos Sainz To Miss Saudi Arabian GP After Suffering Medical Emergency

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Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has had a no-good, very-bad start to 2024.

First. Sainz learned that he will not return to Ferrari in 2025, with his seat instead going to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Sainz appeared to turn things around a bit when he finished on the podium in third place at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

But they took yet another turn this week when he showed up Saudi Arabian Grand Prix feeling under the weather. Ferrari even sent him home from the track on Wednesday during media duties.

As it turns out, Sainz was suffering from appendicitis and was taken to a hospital for surgery on Friday.

“Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery,” the team tweeted. “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 wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.”

In Sainz’s place steps British Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman. Bearman, who drives for Prema Racing in F2, will not take part in the F2 race this weekend.

Instead, he will become the youngest Ferrari driver even at 18 years and 306 days old!

Following this weekend’s race, Formula 1 takes a week off before the Australian Grand Prix on March 22. Ferrari did not specify a return date for Sainz. But one would imagine that he’d hope to be back behind the wheel for that race if all goes well with the surgery.

Meanwhile, Bearman is in for an extremely quick onboarding process.

He stepped in for Friday’s free practice three and ran the most laps of any driver in the session, finishing 10th. He’ll then have a couple of hours before he has to step back into the car for qualifying ahead of the race on Saturday.