Carlos Sainz moved to ease the fears of Formula 1 fans left concerned by an image of him sporting a bandage on his leg.
The Spaniard was among several F1 stars who took part in a charity football match this week ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. After the contest, a photo was shared on social media of Sainz on the bench with a bandage around his right thigh and a worried look on his face.
While the extent of any injury was unclear, it inevitable left some fans wondering if it might put his chances of competing this weekend at risk. But the Ferrari driver has taken to social media to allay those fears.
"Hi everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I am well and completely ready to race this weekend in Monaco," he wrote. "What happened yesterday was simply a contact during the traditional charity football match, but it was not an injury. I enjoyed playing football as I always do and now I am really looking forward to the weekend."
Sainz's team-mate Charles Leclerc also took part in the match and also remained injury free – but he did perhaps come away with a bruised ego after faceplanting the floor just 90 seconds into the match.
A screenshot of that moment was shared widely on social media and the Monegasque got involved himself to joke about it. "I've got a natural talent at football that very few have," he wrote on Instagram with his tongue firmly in his cheek.
Ferrari will need both of their drivers to be in top condition this weekend. They sit fourth in the constructors' standings after a difficult start to the season and will not want to lose any more ground to the rivals ahead of them.
Leclerc has his own personal desire to be successful in Monaco, in front of his home crowd. He has endured horrible luck on home soil in his F1 career so far and will be praying that the stars align this time for him to finally taste glory in the principality.
Meanwhile, Sainz has warned his team-mate he is now feeling much more confident in his car and hopes to be more of a threat as a result. He said: "It hasn't been an easy start, as I said, but I feel like even if the car is possibly even trickier than last year, I understand that trickiness better. And I can set up and drive the car in my way."
