Source: Supplied.

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda’s Jack Miller was sidelined at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday after suffering a heavy crash at turn eight during morning warm-up at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Miller was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the T6 vertebra and a hairline fracture in the radius bone of his right wrist, declared unfit to climb aboard his RC213V from 20th on the grid.

The Australian was battered and bruised after the crash, his third of the weekend, and he was disappointed to be a spectator after showing impressive pace in practice. Miller will have an MRI scan in Brno on Wednesday and then an official medical check on Thursday to determine his fitness for this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix.

“This is not the way I wanted to start the second half of the season, but that’s the way it is,” Miller said. “It’s a shame it didn’t work out for me today, but I’ll keep giving it 100 percent and now I’m hoping to be fit to race in Brno next week, as I really like that track. I banged my foot and that’s a bit sore, as is my wrist and vertebrae with the small fractures, but hopefully I can heal quickly.”

Team principal Michael Bartholemy commented: “It is disappointing that Jack could not race today, but we must think about the future and make sure he is fit and healthy. We will do a medical check with Jack on Wednesday in Brno to assess his condition before deciding whether to submit him to an official medical assessment on Thursday at the circuit.”

Miller entered the weekend coming off a string of top 10 results prior to the annual summer break in Europe, including his magical win at Assen for the independent Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda squad.