Wehrlein confirmed at Sauber for 2017 F1 season
Pascal Wehrlein will race with the Sauber Formula 1 team this year, the Swiss squad confirmed on Monday morning.
Wehrlein, who made his grand prix debut with Manor this season, was one of the candidates to land the second seat at the Mercedes team after Nico Rosberg retired at the end of the 2016 campaign.
However, Wehrlein, who is part of Mercedes' junior driver programme, lost out to Valtteri Bottas, who is set to be announced at the German squad as Lewis Hamilton's teammate.
Williams said at the weekend that a deal to move Bottas to Mercedes was in its final stages.
Wehrlein had also previously been linked to a Force India drive, but that went to Manor teammate Esteban Ocon instead.
Speaking about the decision, Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said: "We are very pleased to confirm Pascal Wehrlein as our second race driver for the 2017 Formula 1 world championship.
"Pascal has shown his talent throughout his career – in single seater racing as well as in the DTM. Last year in his rookie Formula 1 season, he proved his potential by scoring one point in the Austrian GP in Spielberg.
"There is surely more to come from Pascal, and we want to give him the chance to further grow and learn at the pinnacle of motorsport. I am confident Marcus and Pascal will form a solid combination for 2017.”
Wehrlein, who will be teammate to Marcus Ericsson, added: "I am very delighted at being a part of the Sauber F1 Team for the upcoming Formula One Season. It is a new challenge in a new team, and I am really excited and looking forward to this new adventure.
"Our objective is to establish ourselves in the mid-field and to score points on a regular basis. That being said, I will do my best to support Sauber. Now I am looking forward to meeting everyone in the team and to tackling the preparations for the 2017 season.
"I want to say a big thank you to Sauber for trusting in me and giving me this great chance. And surely, a huge thanks also goes to Mercedes for the support."
The 22-year-old from Sigmaringen will partner Marcus Ericsson at the Hinwil-based squad.
Wehrlein, the 2015 DTM champion, had a promising debut season with Manor, giving the team its only point of the year with a drive to 10th place in the Austrian Grand Prix.
The point allowed Manor to move up to 10th place in the standings, but the team eventually lost out to Sauber after finishing down in 11th position.
The resulting financial blow meant Manor is now facing a race against time to find an investor if it wants to compete in Australia.
Previous article
Manor F1 team has buyout offer
Next article
McLaren announces 2017 F1 car launch date
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Pascal Wehrlein |
| Teams | Sauber |
| Author | Pablo Elizalde |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
