20/03/2015
NEWS STORY
Williams' Valtteri Bottas, side-lined in Australia by back injury, is looking forward to Malaysia
Reduced to the role of spectator in Australia when he suffered a (very small) tear in the annular part of a disc in his lower back during qualifying, the Finn could only look on as teammate Felipe Massa battled to fourth behind the Mercedes duo and Sebastian Vettel.
Today, a week ahead of the second round of the season, whilst rivals seemingly focussed on the solar eclipse, Bottas took to Twitter to reveal that he is looking forward to returning to action.
"Hi guys! Progress is being made and every day is a good step forward. Can't wait for Malaysia!" he tweeted, along with a picture (right) of him exercising in an exotically located pool.
Whatever the doctors verdict on his recovery, or even Valtteri himself, it is the FIA who will need to be convinced next week, the Finn being prevented from racing in Melbourne because he failed the all-important 'extraction test'.
Hopefully another few days in the pool should do it.
Should he still fail to pass the test, which will take place on Thursday, it is unclear who would replace him, Pat Symonds seemingly having ruled out Susie Wolff.
Picture Credit: Valtteri Bottas/Twitter