Carlos Sainz is sidelined this weekend due to appendicitis, but his Ferrari team rallied behind him on Friday with their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Sainz had been feeling under the weather on Wednesday but nevertheless took part in Thursday’s opening day of practice in Jeddah.
However, on Friday morning he was whisked off to hospital after acute pain set in. A diagnosis of appendicitis was made, and surgery ensued.
Scuderia team boss Fred Vasseur said the procedure was uncomplicated and that Sainz - seen in the photo hereunder recovering with his father at his side - is in good spirits.
“The surgery is okay,” Vasseur told Sky F1. “Not for this weekend for sure [his return], but I hope that he will be back soon.
“It’s a tough moment but everything is going in the right direction now and we have to think about the future.”
Sainz’s absence saw F1 rookie Ollie Bearman thrown in at the deep end. The 18-year-old qualified an impressive P11 and will receive his baptism by fire this evening in Jeddah.
