Journalist shares whether Ollie Bearman or Carlos Sainz is 'expected' to race at Australian GP

Journalist Tom Clarkson has revealed whether the paddock expect Carlos Sainz to make his F1 return in Australia this weekend.

Sainz missed the last Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia after he contracted appendicitis and had to undergo surgery.

But speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Clarkson has offered an update on Sainz’s availability for the race in Melbourne.

Formula 2 driver and Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman deputised for Sainz in Jeddah and finished seventh.

Sainz was expected to make the long trip down under at the start of this week, allowing him to adjust to the time zone change.

Ferrari are ready to wait until Friday, when the first two practice sessions take place, to make their final call.

Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan predicted that Bearman would be back in the car in Albert Park to offer Sainz more time to recover.

Will Carlos Sainz race in Australia?

Clarkson says that the expectation is that Sainz will make a swift return to action at the weekend.

Sainz’s eagerness to get back behind the wheel is understandable given that he’s fighting for his place on the grid.

Ferrari have already decided to replace him with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season.

The 29-year-old got off to a strong start in Bahrain, winning the driver of the day award after finishing third.

He’ll hope to shake off the ill-effects of his procedure and regain that form in Australia.

Bearman, meanwhile, will be back in F2 action and looking to recover some of the ground that he lost.

The Briton was due to start the feature race on pole position before the call from Ferrari.

His absence from the remainder of the weekend has left him rock bottom of the championship.