Jeddah, Beritasatu.com – Ferrari team driver Carlos Sainz Jr will not take part in the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix this weekend. According to the Ferrari team, Friday (8/3/2024), the Spanish racer was diagnosed with appendicitis which required surgery.
Sainz, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the season and be replaced by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, managed to climb the podium by finishing third in the 2024 F1 season opener in Bahrain. He is behind two Red Bull team drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Sainz is also the last driver to beat a Red Bull car, having finished first at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“Starting from FP3 free practice and the remainder of this weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman,” said Ferrari.
Reserve driver Bearman, who races for Prema Racing in Formula Two (F2), graduated from the Ferrari racing academy. The 18-year-old Briton finished sixth in the Formula Two drivers’ championship last season.
Therefore, Oliver will not take part again in this round of the F2 Championship, added Ferrari.