The 2024 Formula 1 season was a testing and transformative year for Carlos Sainz, marked by a critical health setback that almost sidelined him completely. Early in the year, during the buildup to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Spanish driver underwent emergency appendicitis surgery but managed to return strongly enough to secure his first win of the season at the Australian Grand Prix. This Carlos Sainz 2024 comeback victory stands out as a testament to his resilience and determination despite physical and emotional difficulties.
Following the surgery, Sainz missed the Jeddah race but remained closely involved with his team even while recovering. His 2024 season culminated in a fifth-place finish in the drivers‘ championship with 290 points and two wins, ending his tenure with Scuderia Ferrari before moving to Williams F1.
Confronting Health Challenges Amid Competition
Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis just before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, an unexpected blow. Though feeling unwell on the Thursday of the race weekend, he still completed both practice sessions before being rushed to the hospital for surgery. This interruption forced him to miss the race in Jeddah but did not prevent him from staying engaged with his team’s efforts.
Reflecting on the difficulties of the year, he said,
“It’s like life is hitting me hard for some reason in 2024. For some reason they’ve decided this is my character-building year and I took it a bit like that.”
This illustrates how the season’s challenges became a test of his mental strength as much as his physical health.
Turning Adversity into Team Support
Despite the setback, Sainz chose to remain involved trackside to support his Scuderia Ferrari colleagues, especially teammate Charles Leclerc and reserve driver Oliver Bearman. Rather than retreating, he used his recovery time to deepen his understanding of race strategy and engineering communication.
He described his mindset during this period:
“Like someone up there has decided this is the year to give me a bit of a hard time. I need to fight back, you know. And I remember having the appendix surgery and having to watch the race in the box with the team. I decided to walk into the paddock that day still limping.”
This willingness to engage despite physical pain underscored his commitment.
Sainz also sought to add value beyond driving by working closely with the engineers and reserve driver. He explained,
“And I actually went to the paddock that day and said: I’m going to use this as an opportunity to see how my engineers communicate with Ollie, what kind of screens they’re seeing, how are they saying things, and I’m actually going to be a third engineer for them to maybe learn what if I was only in the car, what kind of information I would need to get in this exact moment.”
Victory Fueled by Positivity and Determination
Just two weeks following his surgery, Sainz claimed victory at the Australian Grand Prix, an achievement highlighting his comeback spirit and unyielding attitude. His triumph was not only a physical recovery but a mental victory over the adversity of 2024.
About his mindset, Sainz shared,
“Because it would have been so easy to become negative and to curse the year, to curse the moment, and to curse life about how bad it’s treating you and remain negative. And I think that positivity is what helped me win the race on the comeback.”
His attitude and resilience throughout such a difficult year reveal the deeper lessons learned beyond the racetrack. The 2024 season, though marked by pain and challenge, proved to be a significant period of growth for Sainz as both a competitor and a person, paving the way for his new journey with Williams F1 in the upcoming season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Carlos Sainz have 55?
A. In his racing career, the number 55 has become closely linked to the Spanish driver. This number is important to who he is both in and out of the sport. Sainz picked this number because of a clever personal tie: Carlo5 5ainz.
