Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur feels “optimistic” about Carlos Sainz’s recovery after his surgery in Jeddah due to appendicitis.
The Frenchman admitted that he still doesn’t know if the Spaniard will be able to recover in time for the Australian GP, but Sainz’s recovery is going well. In case the latter won’t be fit to race, Oliver Bearman will drive for the Scuderia once again.
“This I don’t know, honestly,” said Vasseur when asked whether Sainz would get back into the cockpit next week.
“The recovery so far is amazing, the fact he was able to come today to be with the team is a very good sign and a very good support for us.
“Now, he will fly back with me tomorrow [Sunday] and he will have one week of complete rest, and we will take a decision on when he has to fly to Melbourne in one week’s time. But I’m quite optimistic.”
So, Ferrari is planning to decide this week, but Sainz will still set to travel with the team anyway and a final decision will be made before the start of the Australian GP weekend.
“Now let’s be focused on the future for Carlos. The most important thing is not to push today, it’s to recover and to recover properly.
“I don’t want to rush, but he’s an adult, and he’ll take the right decision.
“It’s a huge recovery, and now we have to be focussed on Melbourne. He needs to have a good rest this week, and we’ll see next week.”