Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein will miss the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after admitting he does not feel fit enough to complete a race distance. Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi will take his place from final practice onwards.
Wehrlein injured his back in an accident at the Race of Champions in Miami earlier this year when his car collided with that of fellow F1 driver Felipe Massa and was pitched into a roll over a barrier. He walked away from the incident but sustained an injury to his back that prevented him from training at his usual level through the winter and forced him to miss the opening pre-season test in Barcelona.