Formula 1: Carlos Sainz leaves Ferrari due to appendicitis and Oliver Bearman, 18, will take his seat in Jeddah

The Spanish Carlos Sainz will not be able to participate this weekend at Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prixwhich will take place on the street circuit of Jeddahbecause he suffers appendicitis, then you will have to undergo surgery. Starting from the third free practice session on Friday, his place will be taken by the young Briton Oliver Bearmannreserve driver and member of the Italian team’s academy.

The news was confirmed this Friday by Ferrari through a short statement, in which he wished “a speedy recovery” to the Madrilenian, who on Thursday had finished sixth in the first free practice session and seventh in the second. After getting out of his vehicle, Sainz said this that day It had been “very difficult” for him..

“I have not fully recovered from the illness that has kept me in bed for the last 24 hours.” and I still feel very weak“, explained the 29-year-old driver, who had expressed the hope of “being recovered for qualifying and for the race”.

But finally the Spaniard, who had started the season with a third place At last week’s Bahrain Grand Prix he will not be able to compete due to appendicitis, the same pathology that affected the Thai in 2022. Alex Albon and prevented him from participating in the Italian Grand Prix (he was replaced by the Dutchman Nyck de Vries).

Sainz’s place will be filled by bearjust 18 years old, who will debut this weekend in Formula 1 and will thus become the 776th driver to take part in a test in the top category of world motor racing and in the 97th who will do it aboard a Ferrari (His red car will have the number 38 stamped on it.)

The English are a member of the Ferrari Academy since 2022 and also participates in the Formula 2 competition representing the PREMA Racing team. Last weekend, at the first round of the season in the Formula 1 support category, he finished 16th in both the main event and the sprint race.

“The Jeddah circuit is one of my favourites,” said the young driver from Jeddah Chelmsford. Thursday remained with the pole position in the category in which the Argentine also competes Franco Colapinto. While he won’t be able to take advantage of it, as he won’t be competing in either Friday’s sprint race or Saturday’s main event, it will be for a very good reason.

Bearman began to run karting when he was seven and did so until he was 14, when he entered the ADAC Formula 4 championship and the Italian Formula 4 championship. In 2021 he was champion of both competitions. In 2022 he moved to FIA Formula 3 with PREMA Racing and finished third in the competition after achieving eight podiums, including a win in the sprint race in Belgium.

Last year was his first in Formula 2, again with PREMA Racing. He spent a perfect weekend in Baku, where he took pole position and triumphed in both races of the day. He also won the main races in Barcelona and Monza. He scored 130 points this season and this is his ranking sixth in the championship.