- Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has been ruled out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
- Spaniard has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery
- Sainz took part in practice but will be replaced by British rookie Oliver Bearman
Oliver Bearman, an 18-year-old English driver, will make his shock debut for Ferrari the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend
He will take part in qualifying on Friday, replacing Carlos Sainz, who has gone down with appendicitis.
Bearman will become the youngest British Formula one competitor in history.
He also becomes the 12th Briton to drive for Ferrari and the first Englishman since Nigel Mansell in 1990.
The 6ft 3in teenager currently drives in Formula Two and is Ferrari’s reserve driver.
Oliver Bearman will make his shock debut for Ferrari the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz will miss the weekend as he needs to undergo surgery for appendicitis
In a statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ferrari said: ‘Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery.
‘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. The Ferrari family wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.’
Sainz, who finished seventh in FP2 on Thursday, admitted that he had been was struggling at the end of the day.
He said: ‘Obviously a very difficult day after feeling sick the last 24 hours have been tough and difficult for me.
‘Today was all about trying to get myself on track and learn as much as possible from the car without really pushing too much the limits as I was still a bit on the non-ideal side, but we managed to complete the programme without issues.’
Sainz battled through illness to get behind the wheel for Thursday’s two practice sessions
18-year-old Bearman will become the youngest British Formula one competitor in history
Sainz, who will be leaving Ferrari at the end of the season with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton taking his seat next year, finished third in the season opener in Bahrain behind the two Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Sainz was also the last driver to beat the Red Bull cars and take the chequered flag at the Singapore Grand Prix last year.
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