Williams evaluating options if Bottas not fit for Malaysisa

Williams are keeping quiet on a possible substitute driver should injured Valtteri Bottas fail to be declared fit in time for the Malaysian Grand Prix, but the team do admit they are considering a variety of options for a replacement should the need arise.

Although Bottas is reportedly recovering well from his back injury, described by the team as “soft tissue damage in his lower back” which forced him to sit out the Australian Grand Prix. The worst case scenario for Williams is that he will not be passed fit for the race at Sepang which would require Williams to find a substitute.

The problem is that Williams do not have a designated reserve driver, although Susie Wolff is their test driver and Alex Lynn their development driver.

However Claire Williams appeared to rule out Wolff as a replacement when she told media in Melbourne, “Susie Wolff is our test driver not our reserve driver.”

When asked about who would replace Bottas should he not be fit to race next weekend, a spokesperson for the team said, “We have a variety of options available which the team is evaluating. However we are committed to doing everything we can to help Valtteri be back in the car in Malaysia and this is our primary focus.”

When pressed they added, “We have no comment on this subject. As you can appreciate our focus is on Valtteri. If we have anything else to announce we will do. Susie is our test driver, Alex Lynn is our development driver.”