Carlos Sainz is ‘expected’ to make his F1 return in Australian GP after his operation, which will release Oliver Bearman for his F2 run.
Having missed the important part of the F1 Saudi Arabian GP due to his appendix operation in the middle of the weekend, Ferrari’s Sainz is ‘expected’ to make his return in this weekend’s Australian GP at Albert Park circuit to continue his 2024 season.
With Robert Shwartzman and Antonio Giovinazzi not available in Jeddah, Frederic Vasseur took the decision to put reserve and F2 racer Bearman in the car. He was pulled out from pole and handed his F1 debut from FP3 onward with little time to adjust.
He did well enough to make it in Q2 and eventually score points on debut and is seemingly on standby for Australia too. But his services may not be required as Sainz has travelled Down Under and is awaiting his FIA medical clearance to be fit to drive.
“Carlos Sainz is expected to be back in the car, having had to miss Jeddah with appendicitis and he and team-mate Charles Leclerc will most likely be fighting at the front of the field, as they have done in the first two rounds,” stated Ferrari in its pre-race release, as Sainz’s confirmation will release Bearman to continue his F2 programme.
The team will be hoping for Sainz to be 100% not just on health side, but also performance wise as they try to challenge Red Bull for race wins, while keeping the likes of Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin at bay and off the podium positions.
“After a busy start to the season with back-to-back races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, we’ve now made the longest trip of the year to Australia,” said Vasseur. “The Albert Park track is a favourite with the drivers and one where Ferrari has always enjoyed a lot of support.
“We expect to be front runners on this track which could produce a similar pecking order to the one seen in Jeddah. We intend adopting an aggressive approach with the aim of putting pressure on the team that’s won the first two races.”
Here’s Frederic Vasseur trimming down Oliver Bearman’s chances
Here’s Ferrari undertaking private testing
Here’s Oliver Bearman on help from Lewis Hamilton
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