Pascal Wehrlein remains in the Mercedes fold

Supported since 2013 by Mercedes with a program DTM having led him to the title in 2015 before making the big leap to F1, pascal wehrlein will retain the support of the Stuttgart firm in 2018.

Holder at Manor in 2016 (team powered by Mercedes) then Sauber last year, the 23-year-old German was not extended within the Hinwil structure after the agreement signed with Alfa Romeo, leading to the recruitment of Charles Leclerc, protected from Ferrari.

Wehrlein had nevertheless brought the only points in the Manufacturers' standings to Sauber, and his situation had particularly taken aback former Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn. If Wehrlein had once hoped turn to Williams, the native of Sigmaringen should serve as Mercedes reserve driver this year.

“We have supported Pascal since 2013, remember Toto wolff, boss of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, Sports picture. He earned his chance in F1 after his DTM title in 2015. Then, he had two complicated years.

We're going to keep him in the family in 2018, and we've offered him a reserve driver spot at Mercedes to keep all options open for him for 2019."

Mercedes had extended Valtteri Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton until the end of the current year after a first year disputed in 2017 replacing Nico Rosberg.