Sainz "nearly started vomiting" during Australian GP
Carlos Sainz says a problem with his Renault car's water pump meant he nearly vomited during Formula 1's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The Spanish driver reported on the radio during the race that he was feeling nauseous as he fought to defend 10th position from Force India's Sergio Perez.
In the end Sainz managed to keep his rival at bay despite the stomach problems, but the Renault driver admitted it had been a very tough day.
"We had a problem with the water pump and during the first 10 or 15 laps it was squirting water on my face, so I was drinking too much water," Sainz explained.
"When the safety car came out I had a lot of water in my stomach and was moving from side to side and I was feeling it a lot in the corners and I wasn't feeling well.
"I managed to survive as best I could and I reached the finish."
He added: "Very uncomfortable. With the g-forces we have this year, having the stomach full of water, moving from side to side, I don't know if it was a stomach cramp or what, but I wasn't comfortable."
Sainz, running eighth at the start, lost a place to McLaren rival Fernando Alonso when he went off at Turn 9 early in the race.
The Renault driver said the incident was caused by how unwell he was feeling.
"It was a consequence of the rest. If you are not comfortable, in the end you are not feeling good, you can't push to the limit, and you are not 100 percent, and that's what happened today," he added.
"So I'm half happy to have been able to score a point because there was a moment in the race where I nearly started vomiting during the safety car, so I struggled."
Teammate Nico Hulkenberg completed a double points finish for Renault by taking seventh place.
Share Or Save This Story
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
What the drivers are expecting from F1's return to Sepang
Sainz interview: “I always believed in McLaren… but then Ferrari called”
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
Why Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are "test pilots" for Mercedes at Singapore GP
F1 Singapore GP live commentary and updates: Sergio Perez triggers red flag in SQ1
Jorge Martin “struggling” at Mandalika, says Marc Marquez’s pace is “better”
Toto Wolff hits back at “brainless” George Russell conspiracy theory
Why Red Bull's 'crazy' power unit success matters so much for F1
No denying it now – the one reason why F1’s ‘horrible’ start in Malaysia could be a good thing
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments