Pascal Wehrlein was high on the list to replace retired F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, and with it slot into the most coveted seat in the sport but instead he will race for Sauber this year near the back of the field – but the German is unperturbed.
Wehrlein said in an interview that Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff told him, “One year of experience is not enough. It was quite clear.
“He said: We think it would be good for you to have more experience, one year was not enough and especially in the second year, drivers are always making big progress.”
“I think Mercedes wants to have a ready driver and a perfect driver, who is at his limit. At the moment I am not on my limit where I could be, because of the experience and that is quite clear.”
Had he been given the ‘golden ticket’ Wehrlein admits he would have grabbed it, “If the chance is there, you have to take it. I think it was not too much. Of course with one year of experience you are not at your limit and you will do some mistakes.
“You will sometimes go in the wrong direction with the set-up because you are lacking the experience. It is something normal if you have five years of experience in F1 or even more, you know, the mistakes – they will be a lot less than with one year.”
“I knew I was one of the candidates, one of the possible drivers, but I didn’t focus on that. I’m not taking the decision.”
“I focused on my training, what I can do better for this year, and then wait until the decision was made,” added Wehrlein, who is still backed by Mercedes, but will line-up on the grid this year in a Ferrari powered Sauber.
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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