Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is confident he can take part in the Formula 1 race in Australia just two weeks after his appendix operation.
“I feel ready, I’ve done as much as possible to recover,” said the Spaniard in the paddock in Melbourne and also took a seat test in his company car.
“You can’t imagine the effort and logistics I went through to get fit for this race. I’m very happy with the progress I’ve made and I’m ready to get in the car.” said Sainz.
Can Sainz stand the strain in the car?
The son of the rally legend of the same name still wants to see the impressions from the first two training sessions on Friday and a check by the world motorsport association Fia to see whether his health is up to the exertion in the car.
The 29-year-old had to miss his start in Saudi Arabia due to an inflamed appendix and had an operation in Jeddah. The day after the procedure, he allegedly returned to the track as a spectator at the race against the advice of the doctors.
Sainz has some catching up to do due to his forced break. “I won’t be 100 percent fit, because I spent ten days in bed and not ten days training and sitting in the simulator, but if I’m fit and don’t have any pain or bad symptoms, I can have a good weekend,” said he. “The goal will be to challenge Red Bull.”
Youngster Bearman is back on site as a replacement
At the season opener in Bahrain, Sainz came third behind race winner Max Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez. In Saudi Arabia, Verstappen and Pérez ended up at the front again, followed by Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari who made it onto the podium. The only 18-year-old Oliver Bearman, who represented Sainz in Jeddah, came seventh on his Grand Prix debut. The young Brit will also be at Albert Park should he need to help out again.
Sainz is contesting his last season for Ferrari. Next year he will be replaced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (39) from Mercedes. Sainz doesn’t have a new team yet.
