CARLOS IS OP AND AT ’EM
Sainz bounces back after having appendix removed and now maybe Ferrari will live to regret decision to give his job to Hamilton
The Ferrai driver missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix two weeks ago following surgery to have his appendix removed.
He wasn’t sure he would even drive in Melbourne, with British teenager Oliver Bearman again on standby.
But the 29-year-old Spaniard qualified second on the grid and raced through the pain barrier to lead a one-two finish on a redletter day for Ferrari.
The Italians were helped by Max Verstappen’s brake fire which ended his race after just four laps.
Lewis Hamilton also pulled over after his engine failed, while George Russell dramatically crashed out late on to cap a wretched weekend for Mercedes.
Sainz will lose his Ferrari seat to Hamilton next season but showed the Scuderia what they will be missing as he beat teammate Charles Leclerc to the chequered flag.
“You cannot imagine how proud I am,” the Madridborn racer beamed. “You know how tough the start of my year has been. The nonrenewal, putting together a good pre-season testing, podium at the first race, I was ready to fight this year.
“Then, appendix – another low. Then suddenly you come back and win.”
To speed up his recovery from surgery, Sainz spent two hours per day in a hyperbaric chamber. Even then, he admitted he thought he was going to lose his race against time to be fit enough to take part in Melbourne.
He said: “When I was about to catch my flight to Australia, I was still in bed and could barely use my abdominal muscles. I was like, ‘This isn’t going to happen.’ But I took the flight and when I landed in Australia the feeling was a lot better.”
Out of his car, Sainz has been moving gingerly all weekend – and the same was true as he revelled in his victory. He is now a threetime race winner. The first came at Silverstone two years ago, and he ended a Verstappen winning streak to take victory in Singapore last September.
F1’s Smooth Operator did it again Down Under to thwart the Dutchman – and sang the Sade hit record over the radio after taking the chequered flag.
He grinned happily as he celebrated with colleagues and that smile stayed painted on his face throughout the podium ceremony during which, for once, the Dutch and Austrian anthems were not heard.
He was still cracking jokes as he was reminded that his days as a Ferrari driver are numbered.
“I am still jobless next year!” he laughed.
“I know that when I am given a good car I can get it done. I’ve proved it in Singapore, and here. I am happy. I am very happy with the car today.”
Team-mate Leclerc secured the fastest lap as well as second place, ensuring Ferrari left Australia with maximum points.
It was clear evidence that the Italians need not wait for Hamilton’s arrival next year to take the fight to Red Bull.
Team boss Frederic Vasseur sprayed Sainz with champagne himself as the celebrations continued back at Ferrari’s hospitality.
The Frenchman won’t say if he regrets the decision to hand the Spaniard’s seat to Hamilton next year.
But, if they weren’t already, Ferrari chiefs will surely now be questioning their call to let Sainz walk away.