Carlos Sainz misses Qatar Grand Prix in huge Ferrari blow

The Spaniard qualified 12th on the grid but will not race at the Lusail Circuit on Sunday night

Carlos Sainz did not start the Qatar Grand Prix due to a fuel system issue with his Ferrari car.

The Spanish driver qualified only 12^th on the grid but did not even start the race at the Lusail Circuit on Sunday.

Ferrari mechanics were working frantically to fix the issue but it seems to no avail, with the team confirming just under an hour before lights out that Sainz will not take part.

Sainz finished sixth in the Saturday sprint race.

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said: “We had an issue when we fueled the car, an issue on the fuel system.

“It was too late to change something. It’s a shame because he was in a good momentum after Monza and Singapore.

Carlos Sainz did not start the Qatar Grand Prix (Getty Images)

“It is what it is.”

Max Verstappen starts the race on pole, with George Russell alongside him on the front row.

Sainz’s team-mate Charles Leclerc - the sole Ferrari driver in this race - starts fifth on the grid.