Carlos Sainz has been airlifted to hospital following a high speed crash which saw Practice 3 for the Russian Grand Prix abandoned.

The Toro Rosso driver lost control on the entry to Turn 13 which resulted in the Spaniard hitting a concrete wall before ploughing deep into the barriers at speed.

The hour long session was halted with 15 minutes remaining.

Medical crews attended the scene with Sainz eventually extricated from his car and taken to the Sochi circuit’s medical centre.

His team has since confirmed that Sainz is conscious and communicating before being transferred to a nearby hospital by air for further tests. The full extent of his injuries are unknown at this stage.

“Following Carlos Sainz’s accident during FP3 today in Sochi, the driver is perfectly conscious and was able to talk to the extrication team,” read a statement from Toro Rosso.

“Once out of the car he was taken to the circuit Medical Centre, where he underwent an initial assessment of his condition.

“He has now been taken by air ambulance to the Sochi Hospital 4.

“Investigations on the reasons for the accident will take place once the car is back in the team’s garage.

The team released a further statement confirming Sainz has escaped injury and will stay in hospital overnight.

All ok! Nothing to worry about! Already thinking how to convince The doctors to Be on the grid for tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/81W1QFDo8q

— Carlos Sainz (@carlosainz) October 10, 2015