Sauber replaces Wehrlein with Giovinazzi for Australian GP

Paul Wehrlein did not feel fit enough for a complete race distance as he recovers from a pre-season crash in January which forced him to miss some testing at Barcelona.

Antonio Govinazzi will make his Formula One debut at the Australian GP.

Pascal Wehrlein withdrew on Saturday from the Sauber team for this weekend's season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne citing a back problem. The German said he did not feel fit enough for a complete race distance as he recovers from a pre-season crash in January which forced him to miss some testing at Barcelona.

He has been replaced by the team's third driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who is set to make his F1 debut in Sunday's Melbourne race. "My fitness level is not as it should be for a full race distance because of my training deficit," Wehrlein said. "I explained the situation to the team last night. Therefore, the Sauber F1 Team has decided not to take any risks. It is a pity, but the best decision for the team."

Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said the Swiss outfit did not want to take any unnecessary risks ahead of the first race. "We have great respect of Pascal's openness and professionalism," Kaltenborn said. "This decision was definitely not an easy one for him, it underlines his qualities as a team player. The focus is now on his fitness level, and in such a situation we do not take any unnecessary risks."

He added that Wehrlein planned to be ready for the second race of the year in China.