LONDON (Reuters) - Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein will miss Formula One's opening pre-season test in Barcelona at the end of February due to a lingering back problem, the German said on Friday. "I have to skip the first winter test due to medical advice because of a BACK issue. Wehrlein was injured at the Race of Champions in Miami last month when he crashed a three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot machine while racing Brazilian Felipe Massa on the opening day of competition. The German and his passenger walked away from the crash but the driver withdrew from the rest of that event on medical advice. Reports in Italy indicated that Ferrari's Italian third driver Antonio Giovinazzi would step in for the German at the test alongside Sweden's Marcus Ericsson.

Source: The Star February 17, 2017 10:41 UTC