Ferrari Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz will be replaced by young Briton Oliver Pearman at the Saudi Grand Prix this weekend, the team has confirmed.
Ferrari said in a statement on Friday that Sainz, 29, had been diagnosed with appendicitis and would need surgery.
He missed the media tours in Jeddah on Thursday, but participated in two training sessions later in the day.
Ferrari confirmed that he will be out for the rest of the weekend: “As of FP3 and for the rest of this weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Pearmann. Oliver will therefore not participate again in this round of Formula 2.” championship.
“The Ferrari family wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.”
Biermann, 18, from Chelmsford, Essex, has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2021.
Before the decision was made on Biermann's replacement for Sainz, he secured pole position in Formula 2 qualifying in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
He previously drove for Haas during two training sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last season.
But this is his first time racing in Formula 1 competitively.
The teenager finished sixth in his first season in Formula 2 last year, winning three feature races and one sprint race.
He will become the 12th British Formula 1 driver to race for Ferrari and the first since Eddie Irvine left the team in 2000.
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This will be Biermann's first Formula 1 race. Photo: Reuters
Sainz has yet to be offered a seat for next season after the seven-time world champion was announced Lewis Hamilton will replace him In 2025. Sainz finished third in the first race of the season in Bahrain last weekend.
Frenchman Charles Leclerc (26 years old) will compete as Ferrari's main driver in Saudi Arabia this week. He finished fourth in the Bahrain race, behind Sainz in third.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen – the current Formula 1 champion – won the opening race of the season, while his teammate Sergio Perez came in second.
