PARIS (AFP) - Pascal Wehrlein will make his first appearance of the new Formula One season this weekend in Bahrain after the Sauber driver missed the opening two races with injury.

The 22-year-old German had been struggling for fitness after a crash in January's Race of Champions event which meant he missed most of pre-season training and testing with his new team.

He then sat out the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne citing a back problem and missed last weekend's race (April 9) in Shanghai.

Italian rookie Antonio Giovinazzi stood in for Wehrlein, who was heavily linked with the vacant seat at Mercedes before Valtteri Bottas stepped in for retired world champion Nico Rosberg.

"Good news: We are pleased to inform that Pascal Wehrlein will be back in the car as of the Bahrain GP," Swiss-based Sauber tweeted on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Giovinazzi enjoyed mixed fortunes: he finished 12th on his Grand Prix debut in Melbourne but then smashed his Sauber into a wall in China.

Practice for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix begins on Friday.