F1 Bahrain GP: Wehrlein cleared for Sauber return at Bahrain

The Mercedes protege's pre-season build-up was disrupted by a violent accident in January's Race of Champions in which he sustained back injuries.

Wehrlein felt that, having missed weeks of training, he was not fit enough to compete with the new, more demanding F1 cars, and chose to withdraw from the Australian Grand Prix.

Despite taking to the track in Melbourne for Friday practice, Wehrlein pulled out of the remainder of the weekend after doubting his level of fitness.

Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi had replaced him at Sauber, finishing 12th on his grand prix debut in Australia, before suffering a retirement at last weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, as he continued to deputise.

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Wehrlein answered: "As long as I am under contract to Mercedes, they will decide about my future".

On Tuesday, Sauber announced via Twitter that Wehrlein would be racing this weekend in the Bahrain Grand Prix. It was said that Ferrari would cut Sauber a deal on engine prices in exchange for getting Giovinazzi some race experience.

Wehrlein has spent the last several weeks completing an intensive training program.

Sauber F1 Team might not be the most successful outfit in Formula One, but the independent team definitely knows how to keep making headlines.