Romain Grosjean says Sauber's Pascal Wehrlein has been "brave" to decide to sit out multiple races as he works to recover fitness following an injury earlier in the year.
Wehrlein suffered a back injury during the Race of Champions in January, sidelining him at a crucial stage in his training regime for 2017's more challenging cars. He missed the opening week of pre-season testing and, despite returning to the car for two days in Barcelona and then participating in Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix (after passing FIA medical checks), he decided he was not fit enough to complete the weekend.