Pascal Wehrlein is a name on the fast-track to formula one. Driving for Mercedes' premier team in DTM, the 20-year-old last year became the youngest winner in the German touring car series' entire history. So the German carmaker signed him up in September to be the F1 team's new reserve.
Since then, he has been a regular in the team's Brackley simulator, he set the pace in the title-winning W05 in the post-race Abu Dhabi test, and has been linked with a Friday practice role for 2015. Wehrlein told Schwabische Zeitung: "I want to be in F1 as soon as possible."
It is rumoured Mercedes could place the youngster in a Friday driving role with a smaller team this year that could lead to his grand prix debut. Wehrlein admitted: "A team that has nothing to do with Mercedes is not an option. So if there is a way to gain experience with a customer team, that's great." Mercedes' 'power unit' customers in 2015 are Williams, Force India and Lotus.
Also possible is that Wehrlein will split his F1 reserve and testing duties this year with another season in DTM. "My plan for this year is not yet fixed," he explained, "as for whether I do a double programme or whether the focus will be on one thing. I wouldn't like it if it was just DTM, but I think it's only a debate as to whether it is a double-programme or if I will just focus on formula one," Wehrlein added. (GMM)
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