Carlos Sainz ready to return to action at Australian GP
Carlos Sainz has expressed his readiness to make a comeback with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix, despite concerns surrounding his fitness level after recovering from appendicitis surgery.
Determined to race in Melbourne
After missing the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis that required surgery, Carlos Sainz is planning to return to action with Ferrari at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The Spaniard admitted that his on-track performance will ultimately determine his race status, but he feels prepared to make a comeback after an intense recovery effort.
Readiness and recovery efforts
Speaking to the media ahead of the race weekend, Sainz acknowledged the challenges he faces in getting back into the SF-24 after a 10-day period of limited physical activity.
However, he expressed confidence in his recovery progress, stating,
"I feel ready. I've done as much as possible to recover, and you cannot imagine the effort and logistics that I have done to be fit for this race."
On-track assessment
While Sainz believes he is ready to race, he acknowledged that the true test will come when he experiences the G-forces and physical demands of the Formula 1 car on the track.
"I'll let you know tomorrow when I get back in the car and the G-forces throw me around a bit,"
he said, indicating that his final decision will be based on his on-track performance.
Targeting the Red Bull challenge
Despite the setback and potential fitness limitations, Sainz remains determined to put together a strong weekend and challenge the dominant Red Bull team.
"If I'm fit to race and I don't have any pain or any bad symptoms, I can still put together a strong weekend, and the target will be to challenge the Red Bull," he stated.
Ferrari's closest challenger
So far in the 2024 Formula 1 season, Ferrari has emerged as the closest challenger to Red Bull, with Sainz joining Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez on the podium in Bahrain, while his teammate Charles Leclerc secured third place in Saudi Arabia.
However, Red Bull has maintained a comfortable lead, securing 1-2 finishes in both races.
Fitness concerns raised
Concerns about Sainz's fitness level were raised by F1 photographer Kym Illman, who observed the Spaniard "not moving freely" after a bicycle ride around the track.
Illman expressed doubts about Sainz's readiness to return to action in Melbourne.
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