Valtteri Bottas’ manager on Tuesday said he expects the Finn to return to action this weekend in Malaysia.
After sitting out Melbourne with his injured lower back and recovering in Indonesia last week, the 25-year-old Finn arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
He will be at the Sepang circuit on Wednesday.
It emerges, however, that Williams has engine partner Mercedes’ reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein on standby, should Bottas not be declared fit to race.
"We’re fully supportive of Valtteri’s determination to race in Malaysia," said the Grove team, "but he will need final approval from the FIA medics on Thursday."
Bottas’ manager, Didier Coton, is confident.
"Valtteri is in very good shape," he told the BBC.
"He will have to take the FIA medical, which I expect him to pass. I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t pass it — he tells me he is back to normal."