Mercedes reserve driver and DTM race winner Pascal Wehrlein could make his 2015 official track debut by testing for Force India at Circuit de Catalunya next week.

The 20-year-old is tipped to drive last year’s VJM07 after the team confirmed they would attend the second pre-season test with its 2014 chassis. Force India had initially planned on using their old car during the opening session in Jerez only to skip it altogether amid rising speculations on the outfit’s financial woes.

With the Silverstone-based team yet to reveal their Barcelona driver schedule, the move to run Wehrlein could be interpreted as a way to compensate power unit supplier Mercedes.

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has said he was keen to see Wehrlein get more track time after the young German’s maiden official F1 outing saw him set the fastest time overall of the 2014 Abu Dhabi post-season test aboard the W05.

Force India still expects to roll out their new Mercedes-powered 2015 challenger – the yet-to-be-seen VJM08 – at the third and final pre-season test, which also takes place in Barcelona later this month.

Click here to see the full gallery of Force India's 2015 livery launch

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Sky F1’s Croft hints at major McLaren push for Miami

A familiar storyline may be about to unfold in Formula 1 – one where McLaren…

5 hours ago

Bearman’s rise leaves Komatsu in awe: ‘I don’t see the ceiling’

Momentum is building inside the Haas F1 Team, and much of it is surging from…

7 hours ago

Karting legend manager warns Lindblad: 'Be political and polite’

Legendary karting coach and talent scout Dino Chiesa has drawn striking parallels between Lewis Hamilton…

9 hours ago

Antonelli visits ‘The Doctor’ at the Ranch

F1 world championship leader Kimi Antonelli made good use of his easter weekend to make…

10 hours ago

Verstappen’s inner circle at Red Bull takes another hit

Fresh uncertainty appears to be brewing inside Red Bull Racing, with reports suggesting one of…

11 hours ago

Hamilton on silencing the critics: ‘I still have what it takes’

Three races into Ferrari’s 2026 campaign, Lewis Hamilton looks rejuvenated – his voice steadier, his…

12 hours ago