British teenager to replace Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz at Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

Scuderia Ferrari has confirmed that British teenager Oliver Behrman will replace Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Ferrari said in a statement on Friday that Sainz, 29, had been diagnosed with appendicitis and would “require surgery”.

He missed Thursday’s media availability in Jeddah but participated in two practice sessions later in the day.

Ferrari confirmed he will miss the remainder of the weekend, saying: “Starting from FP3 and for the remainder of the weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman. As a result, Oliver will no longer participate in this round of the F2 championship.

“The Ferrari family wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.”

Bearman, 18, from Chelmsford, Essex, has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2021.

He took pole position in Thursday’s F2 qualifying session in Saudi Arabia before the decision was made to replace Sainz with Behrman.

He drove for Haas in practice sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last season.

But this is his first F1 race.

The teenager finished sixth in his F2 debut last year, winning three races and one sprint race.

He will become the 12th British F1 driver to drive for Ferrari and the first since Eddie Irvine left the team in 2000.

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Sainz has yet to secure a spot for next season after being announced as a seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will replace him 2025. Sainz finished third in the first race of the season in Bahrain last weekend.

Frenchman Charles Leclerc, 26, will race as Ferrari’s main driver in Saudi Arabia this week. He finished fourth in the Bahrain race, behind Sainz in third.

Reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won the opening race of the season, with his teammate Sergio Perez finishing second.