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Wehrlein's 'explosive' character deterred Mercedes

Mercedes snub of protégé Pascal Wehrlein and its preference for Valtteri Bottas may find its origin in the German drivers character rather than his inexperience.

When Nico Rosberg turned away from Formula 1 last December, many belived the plum drive would land most logically in the hands of Mercedes junior and highly rated talent Pascal Wehrlein.

The 22-year-old was passed over however for the benefit of Williams stalwart and vthe astly more experienced Valtteri Bottas.

Toto Wolff reveals however that the choice did not boil down to a mere question of inexperience, with Wehrlein's character also coming into play.

"He can drive a car very well but he is also an explosive character, like Mr Hamilton," Wolff told Germany's Stuttgarter Zeitung.

The Mercedes boss has no troubles with a man who may put his agitation to good use behind the wheel of a racing car, but paired with the equally strong personality of Lewis Hamilton appeared to be the wrong recipe for the Silver Arrows outfit.

"In the car that is quite positive, but in combination with Lewis we needed to take into consideration this explosiveness.

"There is one name from history in which there was a real explosion between two drivers. Our Spanish friend (Fernando Alonso) left us with these scars," Wolff added.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.