Pascal Wehrlein will miss the opening Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona through injury.
The new Sauber signing has been forced to sit out the four-day test after sustaining a back injury following a crash at the Race of Champions event in January.
Wehrlein collided with Williams driver Felipe Massa which resulted in the young German flipping his car.
The Barcelona test from February 27- March 2 was due to be his first outing in the Sauber having joined the Swiss squad after a season at Manor last year.
“I have to skip the first wintertest due to medical advice because of a BACK issue,”read a tweet from Wehrlein’s Twitter account.
“I feel sorry for the team but we’ll come back stronger!”
GP2 ace Antonio Giovinazzi is widely tipped to fill in for Wehrlein at the test.