Ceccarelli: Sainz will be able to regain his form through Australia

The news that Carlos Sainz had to undergo emergency surgery to remove his appendix was certainly one of the most talked about messages in the paddock, as was the Formula 1 debut of Oliver Berman, Ferrari’s reserve driver who put the Spaniard behind the wheel of his car. replaced. .

Now both the team and fans are concerned whether Carlos will be able to return to action in two weeks and go to the start of the Australian Grand Prix. Italian doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli, head of Formula 1’s medical team, who has worked in motorsport for more than twenty years, is almost certain of this.

“If no complications arise, the driver can get back behind the wheel within ten days,” the Spanish newspaper Marca quotes him as saying. – I think Sainz can get his form back through Australia. Of course, I can’t accurately predict how Carlos will fare as I don’t have complete information and don’t work with Ferrari, so my thoughts are general.

Each case may have its own characteristics, and it all depends on what exactly was identified by the doctors who operated on it. But if it was a simple infection and the operation was successful, the rider could be back on the road within ten days.

If we were talking about a football player, then the recovery in this case would take much longer, because their abdominal cavity is subject to greater stress. And the driver sits in the cockpit, and in his case the loads are not so great.

Now such an operation takes place very quickly, through a few very small holes, after which the person spends a few days in the hospital and is discharged. I think the doctors at Ferrari quickly identified the problem and acted correctly.”

Ceccarelli recalled that Alex Albon had a similar problem in 2022, and the Williams driver then missed only one stage: the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, returning to the wheel in Singapore.