Bottas: I arrive in Malaysia fit to race

Valtteri Bottas appears to be fit to race in Malaysia after ten days of rehabilitation and training to cure a very small tear in the annular part of a disc in his lower back - an injury which was aggravated during qualifying in Melbourne.

Speaking ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend, Bottas said, "After such a frustrating Sunday in Australia, I have taken the necessary measures to make sure I arrive in Malaysia fit to race and ready to bring the results home."

"After Melbourne I have stayed in Asia to acclimatise to the hot conditions and adjust to the right time zone. I trained a lot over the winter to prepare for these physically difficult conditions."

He added on Twitter: "Progress is being made and every day is a good step forward. Can't wait for Malaysia!"

And the very latest news is from his manager Coton, who posted to social media a photo of Bottas doing weight work in the gym.

The driver is "impatient to go to Malaysia", Coton said, adding that Bottas "continues his hard work, even on Sunday! All good so far!"

Mika Hakkinen, who is also a member of Bottas' management team, suggested that the driver's seat may have contributed to the injury.

"In my own career," he told the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper, "I had a lot of seats made and each was slightly different to the other. It is not easy to find a completely perfect seat."

If Bottas does not race in Malaysia, it is speculated he will be replaced by Pascal Wehrlein, who is the reserve driver for Williams' engine supplier Mercedes.