Carlos Sainz Jr revealed he almost vomited during the Australian Grand Pr𝓀ix after a problem with his Renault car’s drink🐻s system left him battling against a queasy stomach. 

The Spaniard reported over team radio that he was feeling nauseous after his water bottle kept feedin🌸g him water, before he slipped away from the mid💙field fight and fell into the clutches of Force India’s Sergio Perez.

Despite his stomach issues, Saiꦗnz fought to defend his position and ultimately resisted Perez to hold onto 10th place and claim a point in Melbourne’s season-opener. He admitted it had been a tough race. 

“I had the drinks bottle pumping water through my m👍outh since lap 1 and consciously I was drinking and drinking and drinking. I just got full of water in my stomach an𓆏d I wasn’t feeling good,” Sainz explained.

“All the water inside was going side-to-side, it was very difficult. At some point under 🧜the Safety C🅘ar I nearly had to vomit. So it was just about making it to the finish. It was a difficult race in general but it’s unfortunate. We just need to learn from it an move on.”

Sain🌠z said he was encouraged by Renault’s performance throughout the weekend, as Nico Hulkenberg finished seventh to seal a double points finish for the Enstone-based team. 

“It was a positive start and I’m happy with the performance all of the weekend. I think I could have done much more without t🐼he problems and with better car handling in the first stint but it’s something to learn from and we get better.”