Following initial concerns that Carlos Sainz might find himself ruled out of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, it’s been reported that he will be fit to drive on Friday, after bruising his thigh during the annual Monaco charity football match on Tuesday.
Many were instantly concerned after seeing Sainz with a heavily bandaged right thigh on the side-line of the pitch, with the Spaniard having been substituted due to the injury.
Little was initially known over how seriously the Ferrari driver had hurt himself; however, F1 journalist Giuliano Duchessa shared on social media that Sainz had simply suffered a contusion.
“Known earlier than expected, fortunately it was only a contusion for Carlos. Everything seems ok,” Duchessa wrote on Twitter.
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Sainz will be relieved to have escaped serious injury, with him perhaps set to think twice about competing in the football match next year!
The Spaniard heads into the weekend having finished fifth at the Miami Grand Prix, with race pace having again been a huge concern.
Sainz had looked strong in the opening stages before struggling on the Hard compound in the second half of the race, something which saw him overtaken by Mercedes’ George Russell.
It’s certainly a troubling time for Ferrari, with Sainz perhaps having an exit route should he decide to part ways with the Italians.
The 28-year-old has been recently linked with a move to Audi for 2026, when the German manufacturer join the championship through the current Sauber team.
Sainz isn’t letting himself get distracted by rumours, though, with the Spaniard remaining focused on reaching his “full potential” whilst at Ferrari, a side he’s contracted to until the end of 2024.
“I know there’s still two very important years ahead of us,” Sainz told The Race, “and I think further up than that would be stupid to talk about.
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“But I feel I still have yet to achieve my full potential as a driver. And I feel like at least here I’ve already done another good step in the right direction.
“My immediate future, I only see it with Ferrari and wanting to be successful with this team. There’s nothing that would make me happier than winning again with Ferrari, than mounting a title challenge with Ferrari.
“If you win it or not, it’s a championship fight. You can come out on top or not. But mounting that challenge is short- and medium-term what really motivates me.”