Carlos Sainz, who clinched third place in Bahrain’s season-opener, missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis, leading to emergency surgery.
Formula Two talent Oliver Bearman, 18, stepped in as the youngest British Formula One driver.
Sainz, post-surgery, shared gratitude on social media and playfully captioned a photo with his father, Carlos Sainz Snr, who mirrored the same pose after his appendicitis surgery.
Despite Bearman’s impressive debut, Ferrari eyes a strong finish with Charles Leclerc starting second. Sainz aims for recovery ahead of the next race in Australia in two weeks.