F2 racer Bearman replaces Carlos Sainz ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz’s participation in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend has been cut short due to appendicitis requiring surgery. 

Ferrari’s reserve driver, Oliver Bearman, will step in to replace him. Sainz had already missed his pre-weekend media duties but participated in Thursday’s FP1 and FP2 sessions.

Ferrari confirmed on Friday morning that Sainz will be unable to continue and Bearman will take his place alongside Charles Leclerc from FP3 onwards.

“Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery,” read a brief statement issued by Ferrari, who wished their driver “a speedy recovery”.

“As from FP3 and for the rest of this weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman. Oliver will therefore take no further part in this round of the F2 Championship.”

Appendicitis is the same condition that afflicted Alex Albon before the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. Albon, who was with the Williams team at the time, had to undergo surgery, leading to Nyck de Vries stepping in as his substitute driver.

Bearman, aged 18, had his initial exposure to F1 machinery with Ferrari towards the end of the previous year. This experience served as preparation for him to participate in two FP1 sessions for the Haas team at the Mexican and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix.

He has since completed several more F1 test runs with the Scuderia and is currently competing in F2 with the Prema Racing team, having won four races and placed sixth in the feeder series standings last year.

After a tough start to the 2024 campaign for Prema in Bahrain, Bearman struck back to claim pole position at the high-speed Jeddah track but, as Ferrari touched on, he will no longer take part in the F2 race weekend.

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