We just receive confirmation from FIA that Valtteri Bottas, the Williams driver will not participate in Aussie GP.
Valtteri Bottas has been taken to hospital in Melbourne as a precaution after complaining of back pain during qualifying. Bottas was seen running wide at the final corner and after qualifying in sixth place he was checked by the FIA doctors before being taken to Alfred Hospital. He spend the night in hospital.
“Following the team’s earlier statement regarding the injury that Valtteri sustained to his lower back during yesterday’s qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix,” a team statement said. “It can be confirmed that the scans revealed that Valtteri had suffered has a very small tear in the annular part of a disc in his lower back.
“Valtteri has since been evaluated by the FIA’s medical team and following a series of tests the FIA Medical Delegate has deemed Valtteri unfit to take part in this afternoon’s race. The team respect the FIA’s decision and will now work with Valtteri ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix to ensure he receives the treatment required to get him back to full fitness.”
Bottas cannot be replaced and the rest of the grid will move up one place to fill his empty sixth place grid slot.