Carlos Sainz Jr from Spain, driver for Ferrari, will not be able to participate in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to a diagnosis of appendicitis. As a result, Oliver Bearman will make his Formula 1 debut for Ferrari. Sainz was already feeling unwell before the weekend and even canceled his media commitments on Wednesday. Nevertheless, he still decided to drive the Ferrari SF-24 car during practice. However, Ferrari has now confirmed that Sainz will have to undergo surgery and will miss the remaining races at the Jeddah circuit. Bearman, who has been acting as a reserve driver for Ferrari and Haas this season, will take Sainz’s place and will partner with Charles Leclerc in his official Formula 1 debut. Bearman was originally scheduled to start at the front in the Formula 2 feature race after securing pole position, but now he will focus solely on his Formula 1 duties. Ferrari released a statement confirming Sainz’s condition and expressing their wishes for his recovery. Bearman has previously taken part in two free practice sessions for Haas, a customer team of Ferrari, in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last season. He is also scheduled to make six appearances for Ferrari throughout this season.
As Formula 1 gears up for its major regulatory overhaul in 2026, not everyone is convinced that the sport is headed in the right direction. Formula E CEO...
Read more