Valtteri Bottas was taken to hospital following today's qualifying session after complaining of a back pain.

The Finn, who was regarded as the man most likely to take the fight to Mercedes in today's session, could only manage sixth after locking-up in the first corner of his first run in Q3 and then running wide in the final corner on his second attempt.

The team subsequently revealed that the Finn had complained of a pain in his back, feeling as if something had been pushing into him from his seat.

"Valtteri had a back complaint develop during qualifying which hindered his ability to set the sort of time he was capable of and had to settle for the third row," said Rob Smedley. "We don't know what it is. He just started complaining about it in the middle of the second qualifying, saying the small of his back was hurting.

"We had a look behind his seat and there was nothing in there," he added. "I don't know what's happened, whether he's jarred his back or something. So that's not going very well."

"Given the back complaint I had during the session, the team and I felt it sensible to get me checked out at the local hospital and we await their diagnosis," added Bottas.

The team subsequently tweeted: "Valtteri will rest at his hotel tonight & be checked in the morning by medics before any decision is made."

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