P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sainz "almost not believing" Australia F1 front row after surgery
Carlos Sainz, who had missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix two weeks ago due to appendicitis, recovered just in time to participate in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Despite still feeling discomfort from his recent surgery, he secured an impressive second place on the grid behind Max Verstappen. Sainz expressed his surprise and happiness at his strong performance after a challenging few weeks of recovery. He admitted to feeling rusty initially but eventually found his pace and felt more comfortable with the car. Sainz also shared that fellow driver Alex Albon had warned him about the discomfort he would experience after appendix surgery due to the high g-forces in the cockpit. Although Sainz felt he could have learned more during the missed session in Jeddah, he was grateful for his current position on the grid and his ability to compete despite the lingering physical challenges.
