Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber is hoping to recover from his broken leg in time for the first test of his Red Bull team's new car on Feb 10.
‘I'm aiming to drive the car at the first test,’ the 32-year-old told the BBC on Thursday.
‘Whether that's possible, I don't know, but if I have to wait another week or 10 days for the sake of the whole season, then I will.’
Webber broke his lower right leg after a collision with a four-wheel drive vehicle while competing in his own multi-sport charity event in Tasmania at the weekend.
The Formula One season starts in Melbourne on March 29, with major rule changes including the use of slick tyres and revised aerodynamics, and Webber said he would make sure he was in the best shape possible by then.
‘At the moment there is pressure and swelling whenever I stand up. There is talk it will be like that for the next two or three weeks and come the first week of February we should be on target for me to be able to walk unaided,’ he said.
‘And then the acceleration between the first week of February and the first week of March will be quite extreme in terms of me getting about.
‘We'll look at how much driving I'll do early on,’ added the Australian, who said he took inspiration from the examples of former motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan and Italian ex-Formula One driver Alex Zanardi in overcoming serious injuries.
‘If I have three decent tests going into Melbourne then I am totally focused on not letting the team down in final qualifying on Sunday in Melbourne.
‘I think it will be a bit slow to start with. I'm just going to have to get used to a few things the first time I drive the car but that won't last long at all.’
Webber will be the experienced driver at Red Bull next season after the retirement of Briton David Coulthard and the arrival of 21-year-old German Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel is already a race winner, however, after his triumph with Toro Rosso at this year's Italian Grand Prix.
