Carlos Sainz will not take part in the Saudi Grand Prix due to health reasons. He will be replaced by a talented youngster

This week marks the second race weekend on the Formula 1 calendar. It is hosted by Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. For now, the most interesting moment of this Grand Prix is the withdrawal of Carlos Sainz due to health reasons.

In the morning, news emerged on social media that Carlos Sainz, a Ferrari stable driver, will not take part in the rest of the Formula 1 programme in Jeddah. Ferrari has also come up with an unexpected move.

Carlos Sainz will be replaced by Bearman

He will be replaced by British driver Oliver Bearman, just 18 years old. Formula One said on its social media that Carlos will have to undergo appendectomy surgery.

Bearman was in Jeddah with the Formula 2 support programme, where he performed well, setting the fastest time in qualifying and celebrating pole position with his Prema team.

Perhaps that is why the Italian team opted for the youngster from the British Isles, who has only had Formula 1 experience from last year’s free practice sessions, where he sat in the American Haas monoposto.

Oliver will therefore be missing from the Formula 2 grid. I’m sure Ferrari considered other options, such as Antonio Giovinazzi or Robert Shwartzman, who are more experienced than the aforementioned Bearman.

The latter has already taken part in the third free practice session with the Italian team, where he finished tenth. Whether this decision by Ferrari is a good one or not will only be seen on the race track. Whether Oliver is ready to race in a Formula One car or whether they should have let him spend the weekend in Formula Two and chosen a more experienced driver.

Bearman is very talented, no doubt about it, having won the German and Italian Formula 4 races in 2021. Last year in his rookie season in Formula 2 he won in Baku, Barcelona and at Monza in Italy, which helped him to a final sixth place finish.

It is not yet known how long the Spanish racer will be out of racing. For Oliver Bearman, this is a huge opportunity to showcase his talents in the queen of motorsport.

Source: X, F2