Manor is the only team on the grid that has not yet confirmed their driver lineup for the upcoming season. There are many drivers reportedly in talks with the team, but nothing is official. However, they are one step closer to confirming their driver lineup, as Pascal Wehrlein is set to make his Formula One debut with the team this season.
Wehrlein, a German DTM champion and Mercedes-Benz junior driver, has been a test driver on the Mercedes Formula One team for the past two seasons. He has been rumored to be in line for one of the Manor seats for quite some time. Manor Racing was able to confirm that Wehrlein would be driving in both of the pre-season tests and would start his first race at the season opener in Australia.
“Pascal is a sharp driver with a very promising future; Manor Racing is excited to have him aboard,” said Stephen Fitzpatrick, the owner of Manor Racing. “We’re a small team up for a big challenge this season, so we’ve chosen a driver with the talent and hunger to match our own on-track ambitions. Pascal has impressed in testing for Mercedes and Force India, together with commanding performances in DTM, culminating in the championship win last year. Manor Racing is perfectly placed to help Pascal make a big impact in his first season. We’re looking forward to it!”
Although he has participated in some tests with Mercedes and Force India in past seasons, this will be Wehrlein’s first race behind the wheel of the Formula One car. Due to Marussia’s rocky financial situation in 2014 that led to bankruptcy, Manor is still a small organization and is still recovering from their financial collapse. Despite this, Wehrlein is optimistic:
“Manor Racing is a great place for me to start my Formula One racing career – I’m very pleased to be here. It’s a small and totally focused team and I soon hope to know everyone,” Pascal Wehrlein told the press. “Though it’s my first F1 season my aim is to help Stephen and the guys achieve their goals. It will be a tough challenge but I think we should be able to challenge for points along the way. It’s going to be good fun. A word for my racing family at Mercedes-Benz, and particularly for Toto, who have guided my career this far and made this opportunity possible. Thanks for the incredible support to help me achieve my dream; now it’s down to me to grab the moment and perform on track.”
With Manor running a new Mercedes power unit for the 2016 season, it is possible that Wehrlein has received some financial backing from Mercedes. This would have made him a strong candidate for the Manor seat. With some heavy financial backing, Rio Haryanto is another potential driver for the team. Stoffel Vandoorne and Alexander Rossi are also in the battle for the 2016 seat. It has not been confirmed when the team’s 2016 driver lineup will become official, but with the start of the season rapidly approaching, it is expected to be happening soon.
