Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams FW37 at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Practice, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Friday 13 March 2015. © Sutton Motorsport Images
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.