Carlos Sainz suffered from appendicitis in Saudi Arabia last week.The Ferrari driver was forced to miss the Grand Prix due to surgery. The question now on everyone’s lips is whether or not Sainz will return to action in the coming Australian Grand Prix.
Notably, Sainz’s illness gave reserve driver Oliver Bearman the chance to shine in his first-ever F1 appearance. Bearman finished in 7th, besting his qualifying result and electrifying fans in the process. If Sainz is still out of action next weekend, Bearman will get another shot on track, which could do wonders for his career. It also ought to liven up an already-dull season. Meanwhile, Sainz will be eager to get back as soon as possible to start racking up points again for his 2024 campaign.
At this stage, nobody knows whether Sainz will be in the car or not in Melbourne. The Autopian has reached out to Ferrari for comment. In the meantime, I’ll examine what we know and speculate based on available information and my own personal experience. Not as a race car driver, but as someone lacking an appendix. And I’d say, as bad as it is? He’s got a fair shot.
Routine Surgery
Sainz has been put out of action due to suffering appendicitis. It’s a disease that occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and infected, which is usually caused by a blockage in the organ. Failure to treat the disease can lead to the appendix bursting, which releases a great deal of bacteria into the abdominal cavity with the potential to cause major complications. Typical symptoms of appendicitis include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Lots of vomiting.
The main treatment for appendicitis is removal of the afflicted organ. Ideally, the organ is removed before it bursts, which gives the best possible outcome. Studies taken from US data found that patients who had their appendix removed before bursting stayed in the hospital for an average of 1.8 days, versus 5.2 days for those who suffered an appendix rupture. Medical sources cite a post-surgery recovery period of 2 to 4 weeks before a patient can return to normal activities. That period can be significantly longer if the patient’s appendix had burst prior to surgery.
The type of surgery also plays a role in recovery time. There are two main ways in which appendixes are removed. There is the old-fashioned “open” surgery, and the more modern “laparoscopic” surgery. The open surgery involves surgeons cutting a large incision several inches long into the abdomen. The appendix is then identified within the body, cut free, and removed, with surgeons inspecting the area for other infected tissue. In an uncomplicated surgery, once the appendix is removed, the incision is then closed with stitches, staples, or glue.
Alternatively, the laparoscopic appendectomy has slowly become more popular since its introduction in 1983. It involves making three to four small incisions in the abdomen, up to 1/2 inch in length at most. It’s often colloquially referred to as a “keyhole surgery” due to the small size of the incisions. A laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen using one of these incisions; it’s basically a surgical camera that provides vision inside the abdomen on a monitor. The other incisions are then used for the insertion of surgical instruments with which the appendix is cut free and removed. This surgery has the benefit of quicker recovery for the patient and less scarring and pain. The main tradeoff is that it can have a higher chance of causing an abscess in the abdomen after surgery.
It’s worth noting that Sainz returned to the track in Saudi Arabia in the days following his surgery. It’s safe to assume, then, that it’s likely his appendix was dealt with before it burst. It’s difficult for us to know whether Sainz had a laparoscopic surgery or the older open surgery performed, however.
Personal Commentary
Based on my experience, I would speculate that there’s a good chance Sainz will miss the next race in Australia. Internal surgery is a big deal, and messing with recovery can lead to far bigger problems down the line.
I suffered appendicitis myself back in 2011, and it was not a good time. I threw up continuously for hours one night, then went to the hospital and waited another 12 hours or so for surgery. My appendix was close to bursting upon removal, with the surgery done using the open technique. I then had a day of rest and was discharged around 36 hours after I first presented to the hospital. I left with a 3-inch long wound that had been neatly glued back together to allow it to heal.
While I was quickly out of the hospital, recovery took some time longer. For days after the surgery, I couldn’t walk at any reasonable speed. I had to take tiny steps to avoid disturbing the large incision wound. I wasn’t in any great amount of pain, but I was very conscious of the need not to spill my insides open by misadventure.
Hilariously, I played a punk gig just four short days after the surgery. Ill-advised, but I turned my characteristic flailing down to zero and had my bandmate gently lower my guitar onto me for the performance.
Would I have gotten in a race car, though? Absolutely not. Maybe after a month, but certainly not in the first couple of weeks. My wound was still fresh and tender. The thought of tripping over or sneezing too hard was concerning to me at the time, so anything vigorous was out of the question.
If Sainz had an open surgery, I’d say it’s unlikely he’ll race in Australia. Running a Grand Prix involves driving an F1 car for hours and hours at high G-loads, which is punishing on the body. Doing so with a large wound in the abdomen is a terrifically poor idea, to say nothing of the potential consequences if Sainz were involved in an accident on the track.
There is footage of Sainz returning to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after his surgery. Indeed, he’s still wearing his hospital ID tag in the video, posted to the Scuderia Ferrari Instagram page. In this footage, he can be seen moving relatively freely—not at all like someone who has a fresh three-inch gash in the waist. I’d bet good money he had a laparoscopic surgery.
Such a surgery would leave him with only small scars and a far faster recovery time. There’d also be less risk of catastrophic consequences as there isn’t a large single incision at risk of opening back up. The smaller incisions from laparoscopic surgery, usually 1/2 inch at most, aren’t as big a deal.
Would that recovery be fast enough to see him compete at Australia? I’d say it’s possible. F1 drivers are typically made of sterner stuff than the rest of us, and Carlos looks to be in excellent health, his appendix notwithstanding.
There’s precedent for this, too. Alex Albon famously suffered appendicitis in 2022 right in the middle of the F1 season. He had laparoscopic surgery, but with serious complications, as he suffered respiratory failure due to a reaction from anesthetic. Ultimately, he would spend multiple days in hospital with some of that time spent on a ventilator. This complicated his return to form, but he was able to race in the Singapore Grand Prix just three weeks later.
Ultimately, one hopes that Sainz will be fighting fit as soon as possible. Given his current hunt for a race seat, and the determination typical of an F1 driver, I’d say it would be tough to keep him out of the car if he’s feeling up to it. In any case, if he’s not, Oliver Bearman will be ready and waiting to take the reins once again.
Image credits: Ferrari F1 site, NASA, Lewin Day
The important thing to remember is, if you have a pain in your belly, and it moves down and the the right, go to the doctor.
Don’t do what I did, and say “if it’s still bad tomorrow I’ll go to the doctor’s then”. It was worse in the morning, and I went straight to the doctor*. They took it out that evening, and it was apparently ‘perforated and gangrenous’. I took a month off work, and it was still a bit sore moths later. I don’t think I’d have been able to do something active, like drive an F1 car for at least a couple of months, but hopefully Mr Sainz caught it well in time and didn’t wait around like me.
*(Thank fuck this was fifteen years ago when the NHS hadn’t been fucked by the tories, so you could walk into a GP’s and be seen within half an hour, without an appointment).
George: What did they do?
Jerry: They sealed him up with the mint inside.
George: They *left* the Junior Mint *in* him?
Jerry: Yes!
George: I guess it can’t hurt him… People eat *pounds* of those things.
Jerry: They *eat* them, they don’t put them next to vital organs in their
abdominal cavity!
———————-
Kramer: Who’s gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s
peppermint– it’s *delicious*!
Jerry: That’s true.
Kramer: It’s very refreshing!
I had mine out ca 21 or 22 years ago now, woke up one morning with incredible pain on the lower right side to the point where I could stand up, was so obvious what it was they didn’t bother with X-rays or any diagnostics and just went straight into surgery. I believe hospitalization was only about 24 hours, and I was up and walking the next day, but the localized pain and muscle tightness from the incision didn’t completely go away for a week or two, with guidance on lifting restrictions for 4 weeks. That said, it wasn’t the modern laparoscopic surgery, and I’ve never been in anything close to a pro athlete level of fitness, so, unless he has some sort of unexpected complications, I do expect he’ll be back in 2 weeks.
The most punk move would be to take out you own appendix on stage.
I mean if that Russian in Antarctica could do it hai hard could it be?
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32481442
But that was at least the third self appendectomy.
In a doctor’s version of hold my beer in 1921, Dr Evan O’Neill Kane carried out his own appendectomy to demonstrate how good local anesthesia was.
More impressively in 1944, an Australian Army officer, not a doctor with doctor tools, Jock McLaren “conducted an appendectomy on himself without anaesthesia of any kind, using only a pocket knife and a mirror. He then proceeded to suture himself with what he had on hand – “jungle fibre”. Though not qualified in human medicine or surgery, McLaren had considerable knowledge of veterinary medicine.”
With a pocket knife!
I presume he had a laparoscopic appendectomy; there aren’t a lot of reasons to do an open appendectomy in uncomplicated cases (i.e. not ruptured).
My only thought is that racing puts a lot of stress on the abdominal muscles just trying to stay upright during cornering. Laparoscopic incisions are very small, but they still go through the skin, muscles, and various other tissue layers, all of which need time to heal. I doubt the wounds will technically be fully healed after two weeks, but maybe close enough?
My biggest concern would be just pain and possible reinjury to the abdominal muscles that were cut through. As anyone who’s ever had an abdominal muscle injury could say, you really can’t do anything without engagaing your core. The amount of brake pedal force required (150 kg/ 330lbs) along with steering input could definitely be a problem.
Sainz definitely has every incentive to rush back given his current lack of a 2025 contract, but I’d hate to see him rush back only to miss more time or be limited due to complications. Especially when missing another race would effectively buy him another two weeks of healing.
For the record, I like Carlos and think Ferrari kept the wrong driver…
Lauda went back to racing six weeks after his accident at Nürburgring, having recovered from a coma, undergone reconstructive surgery and with severe damage to his lungs, so yeah, Sainz can go back to racing two weeks after fairly routine surgery.
Indeed! I was going to post same.
Sainz is a young, healthy guy who probably had laparoscopic, so yeah, totally possible. I was old AF (well, 53 at the time), but I could do push-ups about two weeks after a robotic radical prostatectomy. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but nothing was tearing. I’m thinking he’ll race.
If it’s just pain, he’ll definitely be back for the GP. If it’s medical risk, he’ll still definitely be back. Pride, ego, fitness, etc. They’ll make him demonstrate that he can get out of the car in less than 5 seconds. It’s the only thing that’ll keep him from racing.
Pride, ego, fitness, and wanting like hell to get the best possible seat next year.
Sainz has the money and incentive to go for the least-invasive technique, and that’s definitely laparoscopy. I used to work for a guy who sold those instruments, and even ran the equipment in the surgical theater a couple of times (I was totally unqualified).
He’ll be back for the next race come hell or high water.
I’m assuming Sainz’s team doctors also caught the infection basically as soon as possible, and they might have removed the offender more out of excess of caution than pure medical need. Because he can afford surgery more easily than he can afford to miss extra work.
“he can afford surgery more easily than he can afford to miss extra work”
Note how this is completely opposite of many people in the world- and way too many in America, which can do better.
I was out of the hospital less than 12 hours after my laparoscopic appendectomy in 2013 … and while my recovery was set back by a minor infection, I was back at work about a week later. Admittedly, I’m in much poorer physical shape than even the worst F1 driver.
I bet he’s back.
I had my appendix taken out about three years ago as it decided to attempt a mutiny and throw its captain overboard (that’s me). I was back to work three days later.. then again, I worked in an office at that time, doing officey things and I was instructed by the surgeon that I really needed to take things very easy for a month – that whole bit about not being able to exercise really sucked, so yeah, Sainz might be out for a little longer than he’d like from racing. In any event, I wish him the speediest of recoveries.
This is a pretty good video about what it actually takes to race a F1 car; the kinesiology involved is truly remarkable:
https://youtu.be/FVlEaCrC3IM?si=Lns01wM4ZDrNKkQR
Yeah, what you said, “F1 drivers are typically made of sterner stuff than the rest of us”, indeed!
In case the link doesn’t work, it’s for a YouTube video from Wired titled “Why The Average Human Couldn’t Drive An F1 Car.”
A great case in that point is Bearman’s headrest after the Saudi GP, even as a rising F2 driver with a good amount of single seater experience, and active high level training, the headrest was seriously dented just from his head moving around so much from all the loading on his neck. Can see it HERE, absolutely wild the limits both the cars and drivers are pushed to.
If Carlos recovers fast enough to race in Australia, we’d have to call that a Smooth Operation.