Team gelling at Manor, says Wehrlein

Pascal Wehrlein believes Manor Racing is coming together as a team, with more progress on the performance level to follow.

The minnow outfit has undoubtedly stepped up a notch this season, thanks mainly to Mercedes providing its power at the back of what appears to be a reasonably well handling MRT05 chassis.

"Fundamentally we have a good package and every race we're making progress, but it's still very early days," said Wehrlein, ahead of this weekend's Russian Grand Prix.

"There's plenty we can do in every area to improve and find more performance."

Although he has yet score any points, Wehrlein, a Mercedes supported driver, has also added his talent and potential into the mix, battling with established teams and displaying speed and consistency.

"I'm learning a huge amount with each new race and we're really starting to work well together as a team, so it's a combination of factors that will help push us forward.

"It's exciting to see how we can build from here."

The rookie German driver and former DTM champ will sample the Sochi Autodrom for the very first time on Friday.
"It's a great-looking track; I can't wait to try it out on Friday. It's essentially a street circuit and they're always fun to drive.

" This one is quite fast and having the Olympic Park in the middle of it is something a bit different.

"For us, hopefully we have been able to continue improving our set-up so we can unlock a little more of the car's potential – there's still plenty of work to do there."

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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.