Mar.15 (GMM) Williams has played down suggestions Susie Wolff is now in pole position to make her F1 debut.
After missing the Melbourne season opener with a torn disc in his back, Valtteri Bottas is now in doubt for the Malaysian grand prix in two weeks.
In the Melbourne paddock on Sunday, Britain’s Sky broadcaster assumed the Grove team’s ‘reserve driver’ Susie Wolff is first in line to potentially replace Bottas.
But technical boss Pat Symonds said: “She’s not actually our reserve driver, she’s our test driver.
“We don’t have a reserve driver at present.”
Indeed, while much was made of 32-year-old Wolff’s 2015 programme earlier this month, including two Friday practice sessions, she is officially only a ‘test driver’.
Reigning GP3 champion Alex Lynn, meanwhile, is ‘development driver’.
As to who is the frontrunner to replace Bottas at Sepang should he be unfit, Symonds answered: “We’re looking at some plans.”