F1 | Pascal Wehrlein will leave Mercedes at the end of the season

After 6 years spent together, Pascal Wehrlein and Mercedes will part ways at the end of the season. The young German talent joined the Mercedes academy many years ago, taking part in a program that first saw him debut in the DTM, before arriving in Formula 1, always under the protective wing of the Stuttgart team.

Wehrlein is still the youngest driver to have won the title in the covered wheel category, demonstrating all his qualities before his long-awaited move to Formula 1. His debut in the top automotive series came the following season, at Manor, competing with Esteban With a seat in Force India for 2017. After losing the internal fight with his French teammate, Wehrlein was forced to move to Sauber, before having to definitively give up his Formula 1 dream due to the lack of available seats for 2018. Mercedes decided to keep the German in their ranks, giving him the role of simulator driver/third driver and giving him another opportunity to race in the DTM.

“My contract with Mercedes expires at the end of this season and we have decided not to continue together in the future. Now I am looking for new challenges and new opportunities, at the moment I am talking to some teams about getting a seat for next season” – said Wehrlein – “I am grateful to Mercedes for all the support they have offered me, since my first meeting with Norbert Haug in 2021, to Toto Wolff's decision to take me to the DTM instead of Formula 3 in 203, through to the title obtained in 2015. This opened the doors to Formula 1 for me. Thank you all" added the German.

Unfortunately we were unable to offer Pascal a competitive car for next season. In his interest, we have decided with Pascal not to extend our contract, in order to give him the opportunity to find a seat in which he can best express his talent. We want to thank him and wish him the best for the future,” confirmed Mercedes.