Sky F1 commentator Carlo Vanzini opens up on pancreatic cancer diagnosis and upcoming surgery. Carlo Vanzini revealed he is battling pancreatic cancer.

Carlo Vanzini is ill: the iconic Italian F1 commentator who has given us so many emotions over the years, has spoken about the difficult period he is experiencing and about the surgery he will soon have to face. It was an unexpected discovery: Carlo Vanzini is sick. The Sky Sport F1 commentator opened up in a long interview with Il Corriere, where he recounted the tough moment he is going through.

On June 18 of this year he discovered he had pancreatic cancer. “In reality, I didn’t even notice it,” he confessed. “My Sky colleague Davide Camicioli had posted something from the Formula Medicine center in Viareggio, with Doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli. This year I had planned to skip the usual check-up, but when I saw the post I called him to say that if he had told me earlier I would have gone with him. In the background, I could hear the doctor suggesting he bring me the following Wednesday.”

He immediately had an abdominal ultrasound, where the doctors found a lesion. And it was something serious. Carlo Vanzini called his wife Cristina, and together they booked a CT scan in Verona. Why that city specifically? He explained: “Because my sister died at San Raffaele from the same illness. Psychologically, I preferred to have myself checked somewhere else. The surgeon drew a small sketch for me on a piece of paper and talked to me about the operation, to be done after chemotherapy. Knowing that I could undergo surgery gave me a glimpse of light,” he continued.

After that, the Sky presenter and his wife decided to talk about it with their children (they have three) during the summer. Then they told his parents in September. Carlo Vanzini has spoken publicly about his illness only now because “people are starting to ask questions. A few days ago I was trending on X because of my appearance: I’m swollen from the cortisone, I’m bald, I’ve lost my beard…,” he said.

Despite being ill, Carlo Vanzini remains optimistic. “As Vecchioni sings, that you will plant an olive tree, still convinced you will see it bloom.” In January he will be able to undergo surgery after having already completed ten chemotherapy sessions.

The ScuderiaFans.com editorial team wishes Carlo Vanzini a full and speedy recovery.