Zoom A less than ideal build-up to the 2009 season

Mark Webber has promised not to use his broken leg as an 'excuse' if his 2009 season does not kick off as well as he hopes.

The Australian driver is now seven weeks into his recovery from a badly broken right leg, sustained in a mountain-biking stage of his annual post-season outdoor endurance event in Tasmania.

"The recovery is going well," he wrote in his column for the BBC.

The Red Bull Renault driver said his leg is now becoming stronger after not encountering any complications from either the bone injuries or the wounds caused by the compound breaks.

"Hopefully I will be walking quite soon and once that happens the whole curve accelerates quite quickly," he said.

"I have lost a sizeable chunk of my aerobic fitness but I am very confident that come the last few tests I will be in very good shape again."

Webber is scheduled to return to the car at the beginning of February, when his team gets its 2009 car up and running at Jerez.

He said he and new team-mate Sebastian Vettel will then 'share the load' at the three subsequent tests prior to the start of the season in Australia.

"I am extremely confident things will be right but if I have to adjust a few things if I get any soreness in the leg, then I will," Webber explained.

"I do not think I will be disadvantaged as a result of breaking my leg and I can tell you now that I will not be using it as an excuse in Melbourne. I will be there ready to go."

Source: GMM
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