Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein says he has a 50 per cent chance to make his Formula One debut in 2016, the other option being defending his DTM title.
The 21-year-old became the youngest driver to ever win the Germany-based touring car series last month, and has been linked to one of the two remaining seats at Manor, which will use Mercedes power next year.
Throughout the 2015 season, Wehrlein has been dovetailing his DTM commitment with his F1 test driver role and secured significant mileage by driving extensively for both the works team and customer outfit Force India.
“I hope so!” replied Wehrlein when asked by German publication Die Welt whether he would be the fourth German on the grid next year. “My clear goal is to drive in Formula One one day.
“At the moment, chances are probably 50-50. I may do another year in DTM, which would not be bad. DTM is pretty fun.”
“I could try to become a two-time champion. I would not settle for anything else. But of course, F1 remains my goal. I feel ready for the next step.”
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff recently said that the German manufacturer was not willing to pay for placing its protégé at Manor. But the small British outfit remains the only option for Wehrlein to secure a full-time seat in F1 next year, though extending his role as a reserve driver also is “a possibility”.
Should he land a drive with Manor, Wehrlein says he is not worried by the recent management overhaul that saw John Booth and Graeme Lowdon quit, while ex-McLaren man Dave Ryan has become the new racing director.
“Next year’s team will have little in common with the current one. Manor will get Mercedes engines but also support from Williams, which is changing many things. They will be much more competitive than in 2015.”
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