Pascal Wehrlein

Formula 1 driver

Vital statistics for Pascal Wehrlein
Nationality	DEU
Birthplace	Sigmaringen, Germany
Born	18 October 1994
Age	28
F1 debut	Australian Grand Prix, 2016
Driver number	94
Current team	Sauber F1 Team

Pascal Wehrlein raced his way into the DTM series, participating in the German manufacturer category for two years. He linked up with the Mercedes F1 team for a test driver role at the end of 2014, participating in a post-season test in Abu Dhabi, and the following pre-season testing in Spain where he drove for both Force India and Mercedes. Ahead of the 2016 season he was hired by Manor Racing for a full time race drive and switched to Sauber for 2017.

F1 biography

Wehrlein began his racing career in Germany, working through the many karting series and championships until he could make the step up to cars. He participated in the national ADAC Formel Masters series for a couple of seasons, winning the title at his second attempt.

In 2012, Wehrlein finished second in the championship for the Formula 3 Euro Series, racing for Mücke Motorsport. The following season he moved to the DTM series driving for the same team. He picked up a couple of points in his first series, and moved to the HWA team for 2013. Pascal won his first DTM race that year, finishing the season eighth in the standings.

The link with Mercedes was confirmed with a test driver role for the F1 team, announced towards the end of the 2014 season. He participated in the post-season two day test at Abu Dhabi, setting the fastest lap in the fastest car. He was also drafted in to the pre-season test in 2015, driving for both Mercedes and Force India in Barcelona. Initially loaned out to the Force India team, Wehrlein had to be drafted back into the Mercedes on the first day of testing to deputise an unwell Lewis Hamilton.

As part of Manor Racing's power unit supply deal with Mercedes, Pascal Wehrlein was granted a full time race drive for the 2016 season with the team, who also gained access to the wind tunnel at Brackley. He was partnered by Rio Haryanto as Manor fielded another double rookie team for 2016. Midway through the year, however, Rio was replaced by Esteban Ocon and Wehrlein suddenly found himself with a bit of competition in the other car.

He was outshone by the French driver, and was overlooked for a drive with Force India for 2017 in favour of Ocon. His name was briefly in the frame for the seat at Mercedes when Nico Rosberg suddenly retired, but the top team were apparently concerned about his lack of experience. With the future of Manor looking bleak, Wehrlein earned a spot at the Sauber team, joining the Swiss squad for the 2017 season.

Filed under Formula 1 drivers

Date	Title
23/11/2017	Race information - Abu Dhabi 2017
08/11/2017	Race information - Brazil 2017
26/10/2017	Race information - Mexico 2017
18/10/2017	Race information - United States 2017
04/10/2017	Race information - Japan 2017
27/09/2017	Race information - Malaysia 2017
13/09/2017	Race information - Singapore 2017
30/08/2017	Race information - Italy 2017
23/08/2017	Race information - Belgium 2017
27/07/2017	Race information - Hungary 2017

Date	Title
28/11/2017	Hülkenberg drives off into the night
30/05/2017	Sainz best of the rest once again
15/05/2017	Wehrlein continues his return to form
18/04/2017	Sebastian shows his mettle
27/03/2017	Giovinazzi takes his chance
11/03/2017	Put to the test
29/11/2016	Vettel best of the rest as Rosberg secures maiden title
04/07/2016	Button stars in changeable conditions one last time
04/04/2016	Romain disproves beginners' luck theory

Related news

Date	Title
02/12/2017	Sauber launch 2018 livery alongside driver announcement
28/07/2017	Daniel Ricciardo leads Friday practice at the Hungaroring
22/06/2017	Monisha Kaltenborn steps down as Sauber team principal
11/06/2017	Hamilton sets fastest lap around Montreal circuit to take pole position
01/06/2017	Pascal Wehrlein cleared to race in Canada after Monaco accident
31/05/2017	Giovinazzi handed Friday practice role at Haas
14/05/2017	Ferrari miss out on race win after safety car strategy call
25/03/2017	Wehrlein withdraws from Australian Grand Prix for Sauber
28/02/2017	Sauber sign Tatiana Calderón as development driver for 2017
18/02/2017	Pascal Wehrlein to miss first pre-season test in Spain

Date	Title
22/02/2017	First contact

Mentions during live coverage

Date	Update
29/10/2017	It's Pascal Wehrlein who now has his mirrors full of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
22/10/2017	Pascal Wehrlein has come back into the pits again, and Sauber are retiring the car.
22/10/2017	Pascal Wehrlein has pitted, he was already running towards the back anyway.
22/10/2017	The top nine drivers are all starting on purple/pink ultrasofts. Massa, Ericsson, Stroll, Verstappen, Magnussen and Vandoorne are on the red supersets, whilst Pascal Wehrlein is the only driver to start the race on the yellow softs.
17/09/2017	Pascal Wehrlein has come into the pit lane at last, green intermediate tyres going on the Sauber, so the entire field are on the same rubber at the moment.
27/08/2017	The top 14 drivers are all on the purple ultrasofts, with Stroll, Massa and Ericsson on red supersofts. Then Pascal Wehrlein is the only driver starting on the yellow striped softs, with Kvyat and Vandoorne rounding out the order on the supersofts.
25/06/2017	Team radio from Pascal Wehrlein: "Can I pass Marcus?""If you're quicker, yes of course."
11/06/2017	In terms of tyres, almost all of the grid are on the ultrasoft tyres. The top ten on used purple stripes as well. Only Kevin Magnussen in 18th and Pascal Wehrlein from the pit lane are on the supersofts.
11/06/2017	Pascal Wehrlein crashed during qualifying and has a gearbox change penalty but won't have to take it as he is also required to start from the pit lane.
28/05/2017	Turn 8 incident involving Jenson Button and Pascal Wehrlein will be investigated after the race.

Rankings gains and losses

Date	Reason	Points
10/10/2017	You're always going to get points with a submarine mention, loving the boat fun and games.	+2
02/10/2017	Giving Vettel a lift after the race in Malaysia, and, it seems, prepping for a follow up career as a taxi driver!	+1
02/10/2017	Spot of water polo for the Sauber team, with some unorthodox moves from Pascal.	+1
16/06/2017	Good performance for second place in Grill the Grid, bit cheeky to his teammate but super nerdy to make up for it.	+1
23/10/2016	Cheeky little fella ignoring his engineer's request to turn off the engine, despite him asking at least five times!	-2
03/10/2016	Channelling his inner Kimi with an excellent ice cream moment in Malaysia.	+1
16/04/2016	Testing out an F1 driver's concentration skills with a good old jigsaw puzzle, looks like he's doing quite well!	+2