Bottas declared unfit to race after back injury

Williams’ Valtteri Bottas will not take part in Sunday’s 2015 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix after a final medical assessment by the FIA deemed him unfit to race following the back injury he sustained during qualifying.

After examination by the FIA medical delegate at the circuit on Saturday, Bottas was transferred to Albert Hospital in Melbourne for further precautionary scans which revealed he had sustained some soft tissue damage in his lower back.

The Finn, who was set to line up sixth on the grid, remained in hospital overnight and worked with a physiotherapist in a bid to be race ready, but the governing body ultimately decided on Sunday afternoon that he should not compete.

Williams said they respect the FIA’s decision and will now work with Bottas ahead of the next round in Malaysia to ensure he receives the treatment required to get him back to full fitness.

Bottas’s absence means everyone from Daniel Ricciardo downwards now moves up a place on the starting grid.