Carlos Sainz Sr. has been ruled out of the 2023 edition of the event after scans revealed the extent of the injuries
Carlos Sainz Sr, the father of Ferrari F1 driver Carlos Sainz, has revealed that he sustained two fractures to his spine following a horrific crash at Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally. The three-time Dakar rally winner will require medical intervention and has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2023 season. The 60-year-old Spaniard suffered these horrific injuries after his Audi rolled upside down while tackling a dune, landing heavily on its nose and then roof.
Sainz Sr. updated his fans with this unfortunate news on Instagram. “Hello everyone, on my return to Madrid from the Dakar Rally, the back pain I suffered after the incident of this year’s event persisted longer than usual. Following medical advice, I underwent further checks to assess in detail the extent of the injury. Unfortunately, the results haven’t brought good news because I fractured the T5 and T6 vertebrae. The good thing is that both vertebrae are stable and from this day on my priority will be to recover as soon as possible. Thank you all for the love and support I have received over the last days. I will keep you updated”, he wrote. It remains to be seen how long it will take the world rally legend to recover from this injury and it is expected that he will remain out of action for close to three months.
Let us take a look at some of the reactions from fans on social media.
“Well, he could have been checked out almost immediately. But he decided to make the medical helicopter turn around and drive on. I hope he recovers, but let this be a lesson that just because you can go on, doesn’t mean everything is ok. You could just as well end up crippled instead”, wrote a fan.
“He’s 60, fractured vertebrae and despite this he continued competing at high level! Tough guy for sure but I hope that he will take more care of himself in the future, after all he has nothing more to prove”, commented another fan.
“Sainz Sr is a legend for still racing Dakar at 60”, read a comment.
“That could have gone very badly afterwards. Tremendously lucky he didn’t have another accident. Helicopter crew shouldn’t have turned back, every driver wants to go back and they’re not aware of their injuries”, wrote another concerned fan.
Another fan wrote: “and this is why the call for continuing should be made by medical professionals and not the athlete.”
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