Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz will be replaced by British teenager Oliver Bearman at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the team has confirmed.

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

He missed media rounds in Jeddah on Thursday but participated in two practice sessions later in the day.

Confirming he was out for the rest of the weekend, Ferrari said: “As from FP3 and for the rest of this weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman. Oliver will therefore take no further part in this round of the Formula 2 Championship.

“The Ferrari family wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.”

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

Before the decision was made for Bearman to replace Sainz, he secured pole position in F2 qualifying in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Previously he drove for Haas during practice sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last season.

But this is the first time he will race in F1 competitively.

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

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

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Sainz has not yet been offered a seat for next season after it was announced seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will be replacing him in 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.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – the reigning F1 champion – won the season’s opening race, with his teammate Sergio Perez coming second.

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