Carlos Sainz’s Return Date After “Quick” Appendicitis Surgery Predicted by F1 Medical Head

Carlos Sainz had a difficult start to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Thursday due to a stomach bug that had left him feeling unwell for the past few days. He had to skip his usual media duties on Wednesday and was only given the green light to drive just before the start of FP1. Despite his illness, Sainz managed to complete both practice sessions for the day, but he described it as his toughest day in a Formula 1 car. However, earlier on Friday, Ferrari announced that Sainz would be out of action for the remainder of the weekend due to appendicitis, which required surgery. Will Carlos Sainz miss any more races due to his condition? The head of the F1 medical team, Dr. Ricardo Ceccarelli, recently said that it’s not that straightforward to predict.

Ferrari released a statement wishing Sainz a speedy recovery and confirming that Oliver Bearman, the team’s reserve driver, will step in to take his place alongside Charles Leclerc. The team also mentioned that Bearman won’t be participating in the F2 Championship round as a result of his F1 duties. The good news is that Sainz has gone through a successful surgery and afterwards he expressed his gratitude for the support he received during this challenging time.

Dr. Ricardo Ceccarelli expects a 10-day recovery period for Carlos Sainz

In a message shared on social media, Sainz thanked everyone for their kind messages and the care he received at the King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia. He also took a moment to recognize his teammate Charles Leclerc and stand-in driver Oliver Bearman for their performances during the weekend.

In a recent report from Marca.com, Dr. Ceccarelli who’s been in the Formula 1 medical team for over 20 years, gave his medical opinion on Sainz’s chances of being fit for the Australian Grand Prix. “If there are no complications, a driver can get back in the car after 10 days, so I think he’ll be ready for Australia.“ Interestingly, Dr. Ceccarelli compared Sainz’s situation with that of a football player. He noted that footballers typically have longer recovery times because they experience more pressure on their abdomen, unlike F1 drivers who sit and don’t exert as much pressure in that area.

However, Dr. Ceccarelli also mentioned that he can’t specifically comment on Sainz’s case because he doesn’t have all the details and doesn’t work for Ferrari. He explained that the recovery time can vary based on each individual case and the specifics of the operation. Regarding Sainz’s situation, he mentioned, “It all depends on what they found during the surgery, but if it was a routine infection and the operation went smoothly, a driver can return in 10 days, unlike other athletes.”

READ MORE: Carlos Sainz Health Update: Heart-Wrenching Details Grab Limelight After Ferrari Star Appendix Revelation

While everyone is wishing a speedy recovery for Carlos Sainz, there has been tremendous support and encouragement for his stand-in driver Oliver Bearman in the Formula 1 paddock.

Charles Leclerc left mighty impressed with Oliver Bearman

Despite the pressure of making his debut at short notice, Bearman put in an impressive performance during qualifying, securing the 11th position on the grid. This could prove to be one of the biggest opportunities he has had in his relatively young career to prove himself worthy of being in Formula 1.

Charles Leclerc had some high praise for his young teammate, Oliver Bearman, commending his quick adaptation to the challenging track conditions in Jeddah. After qualifying on Friday, Leclerc said, “Well, first of all, I wish Carlos the speediest recovery. And for Ollie, I mean, he has done an incredible job. Obviously, not having done FP1 and FP2 is quite a big disadvantage. He got into a car that he didn’t know on such a challenging track like it is in Jeddah and straightaway in FP3, he was on it. So it was good to see and I’m sure that it’s a very, very special weekend for him.“

With the strong performance of the Ferrari, do you think Oliver Bearman can finish his first-ever F1 race in the top 5 after starting 11th? Share your predictions in the comments down below.