Williams Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas will be forced to exercise his back “three to four times a week” to avoid reoccurring problems from the back injury he suffered at the Australian Grand Prix.
Bottas, who sits fourth in the drivers’ standings, pulled out of the first race of the season in Melbourne after sustaining a small tear in the annular part of a disc in the lower back in qualifying.
In response to missing the Australian GP, the Finn has scored 77 points and currently sits in front of both his team-mate Felipe Massa and compatriot Kimi Raikkonen in the drivers’ championship.
However, the 25-year old has admitted that the injury has forced him to undertake an extensive programme of exercises to his back which he expects to remain in place for the remainder of his career.
“I’m still doing specific exercises for my lower back and those muscles three or four times a week,” Bottas told Autosport.
“I think I’m going to continue that all my career just to make sure it’s not going to happen again.”
“I think that on the first qualifying after that, for the first week, for sure you are not 100 per cent,” Bottas added when quizzed on whether being absent from the first race of the season has affected his championship charge.
“You’re upset you missed the [Australian GP] race, all the time you’re aware of if the back is going to hold on or not, so it doesn’t make things easy.
“But I think after that it’s been ok, you know lately no problems.”
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