Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: March 23, 2024, 00:01 IST
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Turns out Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz did not have to “raise his hand” and have one other driver take his place in the course of the first two apply periods for Sunday’s Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
MELBOURNE, Australia: Turns out Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz didn’t have to “raise his hand” and have one other driver take his place in the course of the first two apply periods for Sunday’s Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Sainz was eighth-fastest within the first session and improved to 3rd quickest within the second on the Albert Park circuit on Friday.
Earlier within the week Sainz stated he felt he was able to return to the cockpit however wasn’t feeling 100% after surgical procedure for appendicitis that dominated him out of the March 10 race in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s been a couple of tough weeks leading to today and to be honest I’m very happy I could complete both sessions with reasonable comfort,” Sainz stated, including that he’d proceed with warning in order that he reaches qualifying on Saturday and Sunday’s race “in the best form possible.”
“I’m confident tomorrow will be better and, overall, the car seems to be in a good place this weekend. We’ll try to maximize everything from body and machine!”
The 29-year-old Sainz completed third behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez on the season-opening Bahrain GP.
Sainz has two F1 wins — on the 2022 British Grand Prix and 2023 in Singapore — and 19 podium finishes. His first F1 race was on the 2015 Australian GP.
The Spanish driver, who’s out of contract on the finish of the season, with Lewis Hamilton set to take his drive from 2025, stated earlier within the week there was an opportunity he could have to get replaced for the second straight race by Ferrari’s standout reserve driver Oliver Bearman.
The 18-year-old Bearman is in Melbourne racing in F2, so may have been out there. Bearman certified in eleventh and completed seventh in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m not stupid, and if I don’t feel good tomorrow — I will be the first one to raise my hand and say that I need another two weeks until the next race,” Sainz stated Thursday.
But on Friday, Sainz didn’t present any post-surgery rust as he completed his quickest lap in 1 minute, 17.707 seconds. His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was quickest in 1:17.277 and sequence chief Max Verstappen was second quickest in 1:17.658.
Ferrari stated Sainz accomplished his run plan with none setbacks, with lengthy runs and quick stings on each the medium and comfortable tires, and would proceed to be on the wheel over the weekend.
“I feel okay, obviously a bit tired after a day of practice and not being 100% physically, but I felt like I had a good day,” Sainz stated. “I managed to complete the whole program. Obviously I need a good night’s sleep and a good recovery for tomorrow.”
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AP Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
