Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is due to return to the grid for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, with British teenager Ollie Bearman dropping down after his eye-catching Formula One debut in Saudi Arabia.

Sainz was forced to withdraw from the race in Jeddah due to a bout of appendicitis which required surgery, paving the way for 18-year-old Bearman to take his place.

He produced an accomplished outing as he took seventh place, winning the praise of Lewis Hamilton among others for his assured display, but will now return to Formula Two while remaining on standby.

Sainz has recovered well from his operation and is set to resume at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit.

A Ferrari statement carried by Formula1.com read: "Carlos Sainz is expected to be back in the car, having had to miss Jeddah with appendicitis.

"He and team-mate Charles Leclerc will most likely be fighting at the front of the field, as they have done in the first two rounds."