Sainz expects to recover from eye infection by qualifying

Carlos Sainz says he expects he will have fully recovered from an eye infection he suffered from on Friday in Sochi. The Renault driver spoke to media in between practice one and two but reassured them that he would be fully fit tomorrow in time for qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix.

“I’m feeling better today,” he told RaceFans. “I don’t know why, I got a strange infected eye which gave me also a bit of fever and a bit of throat pain so I was a bit of a disaster yesterday.

Sainz attributed the infection to his flight into Sochi, saying he first noticed it arriving into Russia. He was given the all clear though by medical officials from Hintsa Performance.

“It’s damaging, for sure,” he added. “It’s something that as a driver you always don’t enjoy but it’s something the team has to do.