Formula One: Ferrari's Carlos Sainz likely to race in Australia after return from appendicitis surgery

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is on track to return at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix after recovering from surgery for appendicitis, the ItalianFormulaOneteam said. Sainz, who was third in the Bahrain season-opener and the last driver to beat dominant Red Bull with victory in Singapore last September, pulled out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after his health issue was diagnosed.

The Spaniard was replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman at the Jeddah Corniche circuit but should be back in the race seat at Albert Park this week, the team said on Wednesday. "Carlos is here in Melbourne since two days (ago) and is OK. We are expecting him to drive," a spokesperson said.

Sainz is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season to make way for Mercedes' seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who will take his seat next year. British teenager Bearman stepped up for an extraordinary F1 race debut in Jeddah, finishing seventh after starting 11th on the grid as Ferrari's youngest ever rookie.

F1 driver Gasly invests in French third-tier soccer club

In other news from F1, Alpine driver and Paris St Germain fan Pierre Gasly has become an investor in third-tier French semi-professional soccer club FC Versailles. The 28-year-old, who drives for Renault-owned Alpine, was announced on the club's website on Monday as the third partner owner.

"I am delighted to get involved with FC Versailles because I have always wanted to get involved in professional football," said the 2020 Italian Grand Prix winner. "With (co-owners) Alexandre (Mulliez) & Fabien (Lazare), we share values, ambition and a keen competitive spirit which will allow us to positively develop the club. This is the start of a very beautiful story. Go Versailles."

Versailles once had France great Thierry Henry as a youth player as well as former France midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa.