A power move, an Indiba machine and Band of Brothers – Sainz's extraordinary 16 days that culminated in his Melbourne victory

When Carlos Sainz was told he had appendicitis on Friday morning in Jeddah, forcing him out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, it triggered an extraordinary journey that ran for 16 days and culminated in a superhero-spec drive to victory in Melbourne. Here’s how it all played out…

Sainz realises he has to step aside in Jeddah

Carlos Sainz missed his media duties on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, the Spaniard laying low in the hotel with suspected food poisoning and a very high fever. Medication used to treat those symptoms eased his discomfort to the point he felt he could drive in practice.