Wehrlein ready for Texas tussle

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Pascal Wehrlein's maiden F1 season with Manor Racing has been a story of study and learning, and this will continue in the near future as the German tackles racing in the Americas for the first time ever.

To date, Wehrlein's high point in 2016 has been the single but valuable point he scored for Manor in Austria. Another top ten finish this year appears as a remote prospect unfortunately given F1's predictable order and the British team's lack of development.

So Wehrlein will focus on accumulating more experience in Austin, in a city and on a trach he has heard much about.

"I’m really excited about heading to the US, Mexico and Brazil," said the German.

"The cities are really cool – places I really want to visit and explore – and the circuits are a mix of new and traditional. So it’s going to be fun."

Wehrlein has only sampled the impressive Circuit of the Americas on a simulator, and the Mercedes protégé has seen a number of turns and corners which have made him both curious and enthusiastic.

"I like the look of the section from Turns 12-15 – very much like the stadium section at Hockenheim, so that gets a thumbs-up before I’ve even started running there.

"I think the sensation of heading through the start-finish straight and up the steep hill to Turn 1 is going to be really cool as well.

"And then there are some other sections that are reminiscent of other circuits, like Silverstone, so it seems that it has a bit of everything."

Wehrlein is obviously aware of how the weather threw a spanner into the works last year in Austin, but he's confident he and his colleagues won't have to compose with such a difficult and merciless downpour from the heavens next weekend.

"The weather can be quite mixed there - judging by what I saw there last year - so it will be interesting working with the tyres I think. I can’t wait."

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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.