A journalist has issued an update on the health of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz ahead of this weekend’s Australian GP.
Sainz missed the last race in Saudi Arabia after he had to undergo an appendectomy.
Claire Cottingham has now shared what she’s seen from the Spaniard before the race in Melbourne.
Sainz drove in the first two practice sessions in Jeddah but then withdrew before the Saturday running.
18-year-old Oliver Bearman stepped in for the Scuderia and roundly impressed with his performance.
Bearman finished seventh to bring home six points and win the driver of the day award.
He’s subsequently been waiting to see if Ferrari will need him again for this weekend.
The Briton will be travelling to Australia to compete in round three of the Formula 2 championship.
Sainz visited the paddock to support Bearman and Ferrari on race day but did so against doctors’ orders.
Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan had predicted that the Scuderia wouldn’t take the risk of fielding him so soon after surgery.
And reports elsewhere had suggested that Ferrari would wait until the last possible moment before deciding on his readiness.
What Carlos Sainz has been doing ahead of the Australian GP
Cottingham, who has worked for BBC Sport, ITV Sport and Eurosport, shared an update on Sainz’s status.
He’s been in Australia since Monday and is apparently doing well.
As it stands, it looks ‘promising’ for the 29-year-old as he bids to make a swift return to action on Friday.
She wrote on X/Twitter: “Carlos Sainz has been in Australia for a couple of days ahead of the weekend.
“Seems all is well after his surgery in Saudi for appendicitis – sounding promising that he’ll be back in a race car on Friday.”
Will Sainz race in Melbourne?
Fellow journalist Tom Clarkson has said Sainz is ‘expected’ to resume his duties this weekend.
The former McLaren driver knows that this year will be vital in his career.
Ferrari have already decided to replace him with Lewis Hamilton in 2025, leaving him without a seat as it stands.
Sainz started the year in impressive fashion with a podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix and will look to repeat that at Albert Park.
Jordan feels that Bearman’s starring debut will serve as something of a wake-up call.
It shows that there are ‘lots of very good young kids who can stand in’ if he doesn’t deliver.
Red Bull, Mercedes and Sauber – soon to be rebranded as Audi – are all mooted as possible destinations.
Bearman, meanwhile, will look to climb the F2 championship after falling to last place thanks to his F1 duties in Saudi Arabia.
He’d qualified on pole position for the feature race before the call from Ferrari.
The teenager may not have the chance to race again at the top level this year but will drive in six FP1 sessions for Haas.
Guenther Steiner, who used to be their team principal, suspects multiple teams will already be pursuing him for 2025.
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