New Sauber F1 driver Pascal Wehrlein has confirmed that he will have to skip 2017’s first pre-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya following his accident at the Race of Champions last month in Miami.
The former DTM champion suffered a scary shunt when the open-top three-wheeler in which he was competing went into the safety barriers and flipped over at Marlins Park.
Wehrlein’s participation had grown increasingly uncertain in recent weeks with Sauber addressing reports last week by tweeting that medical examinations were still ongoing.
The 22-year-old German took to his own Twitter account on Friday to announce that he will have to miss the opening group session in Spain due to a back problem.
Sauber has yet to communicate on Wehrlein’s replacement but it is understood that Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi will get the nod.
The first pre-season test will be held from February 27 to March 2 at the Spanish Grand Prix venue.
GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, who looks after the interests of star designer Adrian…
Max Verstappen says he had to devote all his focus to avoiding a track limits…
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur reckons the Italian outfit would have prevailed in its home…
Sebastian Vettel admitted that Sunday’s tribute laps to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola…
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff hit back last weekend in Imola at Christian Honer’s claim…
Sergio Perez’s run to P8 in Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix looked as uninspiring as…