Mark Webber insists surgery over the winter period will not affect the start of his 2013 championship campaign.
A few years ago, the Red Bull driver badly broke his leg in a mountain cycling crash, and since then he has raced with a 38 centimetre titanium rod on board.
The rod was removed over the winter period.
"The leg’s no problem at all," Webber, 36, told reporters last week at Jerez.
"I’m probably a little bit behind on condition but not much. I’ll be ready to go for Melbourne, I’m clearly on target so that’s all fine.
"At one point it was a little bit stiff but it’s normal. It will be fine. When the adrenalin’s going, it’s zero problems," he insisted.