Carlos Sainz Jnr joked he will encourage other Formula 1 drivers to have their appendices removed after winning the first race since his surgery two weeks ago.
The Ferrari driver missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he underwent a laparoscopy after suffering appendicitis. He won his first race back today after qualifying on the front row of the grid and overtaking Max Verstappen when the pole-winner slowed with a brake problem.Sainz said he “felt really good out there” but said he was relieved it was not the most demanding race.
“Physically it wasn’t the easiest but I was lucky that I was more or less on my own and I could manage my pace, manage the tyres, manage everything and it wasn’t the toughest race of all,” he said. “But I’m very happy and very proud of the team.”
Sainz led Ferrari’s first one-two since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix when he finished second behind Charles Leclerc.
“I’m happy to be in a one-two with Charles here. It shows that the hard work pays off.
“Life sometimes is crazy. What happened at the beginning of the year then the podium in Bahrain, the appendix the comeback, the win it’s a rollercoaster. But I loved it – I’m extremely happy.”
Although Verstappen’s retirement paved the pay for Sainz’s win, he believes he could have taken the fight to the Red Bull driver.
“I felt like I could keep up with him on the first lap and try and take DRS,” he said. “DRS around here is super-powerful.
“Then he lost the car into turn three and there was my chance to get close and attempt an overtake. And then as soon as he was behind, I think he started struggling with the brakes and that was it for him.
“A pity, because we would have had, I think, a very good fight for P1 today. But I’m happy to take the win. He’s had plenty of them. So happy to be back here.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2024 Australian Grand Prix
- Alonso calls Australian GP penalty a ‘one-off I’ve had too many of’
- Red Bull saw warning sign of Australian GP brake problem on Saturday – Verstappen
- Failing to punish Alonso would have “opened a can of worms” – Russell
- Leclerc sure “many team principals” are pursuing Sainz for 2025 seat
- “Don’t put me under pressure” – The best unheard team radio from Melbourne
BasCB (@bascb)
24th March 2024, 6:41
Yeah, let’s make it a party trick – get dropped by your team for the next year, be on top form, have your appendix removed and go out on a run of great races?
Jere (@jerejj)
24th March 2024, 6:56
I didn’t find that joke funny because surgery matters generally aren’t joking-worthy & partly also because I’m generally sensitive to such matters.
Simply unworthy, even as a light-hearted joke.
earthling (@34rthl1ng)
24th March 2024, 8:55
Well, for some dangerous jobs you need to have your appendix removed first. Like going to Antarctica for example.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
24th March 2024, 12:45
As expected
j sc
24th March 2024, 7:29
Those 7 grams really made the difference!
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
24th March 2024, 12:56
Alex Albon will be wanting a second one (no joking matter, considering how his op went, I know) – he can’t keep up with the point-scorers even with a team-mate donating his car, three leading drivers retiring, Sauber chucking nuts about and Alpine waddling around like wombats at the back.
I think Sainz is kidding himself because a healthy RB20 (with handbrake off) would have super-duper-powerful DRS…