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Pascal Wehrlein set to lose Mercedes backing

Published on 23 Oct 2017 13:46
6
By: Rob Veenstra

Pascal Wehrlein could be set to lose the backing of Mercedes. Recently, with the driver's job at Sauber in doubt for 2018, Mercedes' Toto Wolff said he had recommended to Williams that Wehrlein should be considered for the seat oppose Lance Stroll.

But if Sauber and Williams say no, that could be the end of German 23-year-old Wehrlein's Mercedes backing in F1. "Williams is the only option that remains," German language reports quote Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff as saying when asked about Wehrlein. "They are considering several drivers. Pascal has a chance but we can do no more than what we have done. At some point a driver needs to stand on his own legs," Wolff added.

Williams co-owner Paddy Lowe confirmed that Wehrlein is under consideration, even though only Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta did the 'shootout' test last week. "If we are talking about Pascal, then we do not need to test him because we see him drive in every race," he said.

Lowe, however, admitted that Williams is having to consider the wishes of main sponsor Martini, who would prefer that only drivers over 25 advertise their alcoholic drinks. "Yes," Lowe confirmed, "but I'm also sure Martini realise how important the drivers are to us. We will choose the option that is best in terms of results, rather than the one that works best for the sponsors."

Another rumoured option for Wehrlein, the Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso, has been ruled out. "It's nothing to do with Wehrlein personally," said Dr Helmut Marko. "We are just not somewhere for Mercedes juniors." (GMM)

F1 News Pascal Wehrlein Mercedes

Replies (6)

Savio

Posts: 145
very good
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- Oct 23 2017 - 16:05
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Pascal has been disappointing. Ericsson shouldn't be out racing him as often as hi does. On the other hand look at Esteban Ocon starting to best Perez
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- Oct 23 2017 - 18:55
Kean

Posts: 692
Never really understood the hype around Wehrlein. He didn't impress next to Haryanto, that could of course be explained by the possibility of Haryanto being underrated. Next to Ericsson he hasn't impressed either, sure he has scored the points but outer factors were at play there and it wasn't on his own merit that he finished in the points. Looking at qualistats it is 9-6 to Wehrlein, but on at least one occasion Ericsson has had to abort his fast lap (which up until that point was faster than Wehrlein) due to yellow flags. Looking at time differences they are the closest team mates on the grid. This shouldn't be the case since Wehrlein has a 10kg weight advantage on Ericsson, which depending on the track translates to anywhere between 0,1-0,4 seconds. I think the consensus is that Ericsson isn't highly rated, so how come we're not seeing qualistats equal to that of Hulkenberg vs. Palmer, especially given the weight advantage. Add to that the fact that Force India didn't want him, they would have rather signed Ericsson according to rumors, but then Ocon came along....
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- Oct 23 2017 - 20:51
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
A shame. He isnt the best around, but he is good enough to get to stay. I still find the things he pulled off with that Manor to be impressive stuff.
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- Oct 23 2017 - 21:41
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
Story of being launched in a stupid car(s).
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- Oct 24 2017 - 01:12
Kean

Posts: 692
Just read on another site that paddock rumor in Austin said that Kubica and Wehrlein are the two leading candidates for the 2nd Williams seat.
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- Oct 24 2017 - 20:38