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Wehrlein hoping for 'an extraordinary rookie season' with Manor

Pascal Wehrlein believes Manor Racing is the perfect place to begin in Formula 1, and by his own claim is hoping for "an extraordinary rookie season".

The 21-year-old reigning DTM champion kick-starts his career as a Grand Prix driver next week in Australia with the British squad, which he believes provides him with the best opportunity to learn the ropes of F1.

"I believe that Manor is a very good team for me to begin with, to gain experience and get to know F1 as a driver," the German said, speaking to broadcaster RTL.

"I also believe that Manor has significantly more potential now than it did in the last two years, and that is why I think it is a good step for me."

Manor secured a partnership with Mercedes to supply its power units for 2016, and also enrolled several prominent figures, like former McLaren man Dave Ryan, and ex- Ferrari engineers Nikolas Tombazis and Pat Fry.

Subsequently, the minnow outfit's caliber has gone up a notch, a progress that obviously encouraged Mercedes-backed Wehrlein to join its ranks.

The German driver is hopeful Manor can at least move forward from last year when it failed to score a single championship point.

"Maybe this year we will still be behind, but I just hope that we can at least fight for some positions with the other teams.

"If that is possible then it was the right move," he concluded.

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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.