Carlos Sainz has announced he wants to race in Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix after he was released from hospital following a heavy crash during final practice.
The 21-year-old Toro Rosso driver was taken to hospital in Sochi after smashing into barriers at Turn 13, approached at 200mph.
Carlos Sainz said: “My back and neck are just a bit sore but I’m totally ready. Hopefully on Sunday I will wake up in good shape and I can try to race.”
Race stewards have given Carlos Sainz permission to do so pending final medical checks.
The stewards needed to rule because Carlos Sainz did not set a qualifying time following his crash in final practice.
Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for the race ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Williams’ Valtteri Bottas.
Carlos Sainz said he was conscious throughout the incident, in which the circuit’s impact-absorbing barriers ended up on top of him after his car came to rest.
However, the driver added: “Obviously we need to be cautious.”
Russian Grand Prix race starts at 14:00 local tine on Sunday, October 11, in front of a sell-out crowd in the venue that hosted the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTcOKD2_oYM