Sainz Assures in Melbourne 14 Days Post-Surgery

Just 14 days after an appendectomy, Carlos Sainz clinched second in Melbourne’s qualifying. His remarkable recovery and performance spotlight his determination and skill ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz achieved one of the highlights of the Melbourne qualifying session, securing second place on the starting grid for the Australian Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver managed this feat just 14 days after undergoing an appendectomy.

“These two weeks have been challenging, with a lot of time spent in bed waiting to see if I could make it here, and managing to secure a front-row position, I could hardly believe it. But I’m glad to be here and to be competing with the Red Bulls. I was a bit rusty at the start, but I managed to get into the rhythm,” Sainz stated.

Having undergone surgery for his appendix, Sainz admits to experiencing discomfort but noted differences in sensation: “I won’t lie, I’m not in the most comfortable state I’ve ever been in, but I was able to do what was necessary, and I could push to the limit. Alex [Albon] had warned me, you feel the G-forces more, you have to hold your torso better.”

Charles Leclerc made a mistake in Q3, preventing him from securing better than fifth on the grid. The Monegasque was surprised by Max Verstappen and vowed to do his best in the race.

“It started before turn 12,” Leclerc told Canal+. “I lost the rear. We struggled in this qualifying, and already since FP3, the feeling was off. I didn’t do a good job anticipating the track’s evolution, but we are in a good rhythm for the race, so we’ll try to do better tomorrow.”

“We thought we would be better in the qualifiers, and Verstappen made a step forward after Q1; it was harder to catch him. We’ll see in the race; I think they had more margin, especially on the straights, so we’ll look into that and do our best tomorrow.”

Sainz Assures in Melbourne 14 Days Post-Surgery. Sainz Assures in Melbourne 14 Days Post-Surgery