Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard, 29, will be replaced for the rest of the race weekend in Jeddah by the team’s 18-year-old British reserve driver Oliver Bearman.
Sainz had been unwell for two days, saying Thursday practice was “one of my toughest days in a Formula 1 car.”
He had thought he had a stomach bug, but appendicitis was diagnosed and he will require surgery.
Bearman was in Jeddah competing in the Formula 2 championship and had taken pole position for the feature race in qualifying on Thursday.
His appearance in the Ferrari will mark his full F1 debut, although he drove a Haas car in first practice at the Mexican and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix last year.
Ferrari have not said when Sainz will return to the cockpit.
In 2022, Williams driver Alex Albon missed the Italian Grand Prix with appendicitis and returned for the next race in Singapore.
The race after Saudi Arabia is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 20-22. (BBC Sport)
