Returning Sauber driver says he would have raced at previous events if he could
Thursday 13 April 2017 15:16, UK
Pascal Wehrlein says critics of his decision not to race at the season's first two races were speaking without knowledge of his injuries, as the Sauber driver prepares to return in Bahrain this weekend.
After sustaining injuries to his back at the Race of Champions in January, Wehrlein tested at the second Barcelona test and then completed practice at the Australian GP before dropping out of the remainder of that weekend after citing a lack of fitness. He then did not drive at last weekend's Chinese GP, with Antonio Giovinazzi standing in for the second consecutive race.
Wehrlein's decision not to race, which he says was taken with Sauber and Mercedes, who support his career, split the opinion of the paddock, but the German says sitting out Australia and China was the only sensible option.
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"I don't care too much what the others say because they didn't know my situation and they were commenting on my situation," he told reporters in Bahrain.
"For me it was the right decision, together with Monisha [Kaltenborn] and with Toto [Wolff], and what the other drivers think is their stuff.
"If you don't know which injuries someone had then you shouldn't criticise them. It's quite simple: if the injury was just some muscle pain, do you think Sauber or Mercedes would accept me to not drive?"
After confusion about the injuries Wehrlein had sustained, the 22-year-old confirmed he had suffered three fractured vertebrae in his back
"Of course, you feel something - if something was broken before, you feel it for a longer time," he said.
"But medical-wise everything is good. It's just the muscles around [the bones that were fractured]. Of course, they went away if you can't do sport for a few weeks, but they are rebuilding quite quickly as well. I'm quite positive."
Wehrlein has competed fewer than 250 laps in the Sauber C36 so far - Valtteri Bottas has racked up over 800 in his new Mercedes, for instance - but the former Manor driver is not expecting any problems in Bahrain.
"It's my first race this year and normally the more races you do it's the easier it gets," said Wehrlein. "But I think I'll be fine in the car, there's no pain and that's the important thing. The track is quite flat with not many bumps. It's a bit hot - but otherwise it's okay!"
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