SAINZ’S WHIRLWIND FORTNIGHT

CARLOS SAINZ has provided a behindthe-scenes look at his whirlwind fortnight.

The Spanish F1 driver capped off a remarkable two weeks with his third race win at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

Sainz returned to the track in Melbourne after being forced out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on March 9 with appendicitis.

Teenager Oliver Bearman replaced him in Jeddah as Sainz underwent surgery in hospital.

In an Instagram post, he has now shared two pictures of himself in a hospital bed during his time away.

Sainz also attached a snap of himself smiling as he put on his race overalls, with the bandages from his surgery still visible on his stomach.

Another shot showed him laid down with tubes connected to his face whilst watching his phone through a screen.

He added a celebratory post-race snap from Australia as well before ending the post with a clip of himself stretching with a coach during his recovery.

Sainz captioned the post: “My road to recovery and a little tribute to the people that made this weekend happen.

“Now time to get back training, in good shape and prepare for the next few races. THANK YOU!”

He had previously dubbed his return to action “a rollercoaster” after victory at the weekend.

The win was the first non-Red Bull race victory of the season after Max Verstappen was forced to retire with a brake issue.

Meanwhile, Sainz finished ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc to complete a Ferrari onetwo.

He will now be hoping for more success at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on April 7.

His win at this season’s third race leaves the 29-year-old fourth in the Drivers’ Championship behind Verstappen, Leclerc and Sergio Perez — Sun.