Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. has been forced to withdraw from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis, with reserve driver Oliver Bearman stepping in to replace him for the remainder of the weekend.
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Sainz, who had skipped his pre-weekend media obligations, participated in Thursday, March 7 2024’s practice sessions at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
However, following what he described as his “toughest” outing in an F1 car to date, Ferrari confirmed on Friday, March 8 2024, morning that the Spaniard would be unable to continue competing due to his medical condition.
In a statement released by Ferrari, Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery. The team expressed their well wishes for his speedy recovery and announced that Bearman, 18, would take his place alongside Charles Leclerc for the rest of the weekend, starting from FP3.
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Oliver Bearman, who has previously tested with Ferrari and made FP1 appearances for Haas, is currently competing in Formula 2 with the Prema Racing team. With several F1 test runs under his belt and a promising performance in the feeder series, Bearman is poised to make his mark as he steps up to the challenge of filling in for Sainz.
Despite the setback, Ferrari remains focused on maximizing their performance in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Bearman ready to seize the opportunity and contribute to the team’s efforts on the track.
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