Webber still eyes February return

Mark Webber is back in training and hoping to return to the cockpit of a formula one car in February.

The Red Bull driver, who badly broke the two main bones in his right leg just above the ankle in a cycling crash in November, has now returned from Australia to Europe.

"I want to be testing at the beginning of February," the 32-year-old told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Webber has begun a rehabilitation programme with the goal of casting aside his crutches by the third week in January.

He said he is swimming "a lot", and doing light leg exercises with the aid of a trampoline mat, and strengthening his foot and ankle with elastic bands.

"I can't push it too much because the swelling will come back," the Australian explained.

"It could have been much worse," Webber said. "I was lucky it was the right leg, which is not working too hard in the car."

Used for pressing the throttle, however, the right leg is still essential, particularly in the era without traction control. "The most important thing is that I get the feeling back," he confirmed.