Following his axing from Sauber at the end of last year, Pascal Wehrlein will return to the DTM series with Mercedes in 2018 it has been confirmed.
The 22-year-old has maintained the support of the German manufacturer despite his Formula 1 exit and, alongside competing in the German touring car championship which he won in 2015, will be a reserve driver for the current world champions for this season.
His DTM return also coincides with Mercedes’ final year in the category, as the company pulls out to focus on F1 and a Formula E entry from 2019, but for Wehrlein it’s about continuing to prove he is worthy of a seat in F1.
“If I can be strong from the beginning, it could put me in a better position,” he claimed. “But I haven’t thought much about that. I just want to give my best this year.
“Then hopefully I will be in a good position next year.”
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Despite scoring all of Sauber’s points in a difficult year for the Swiss team in 2017, Pascal was dropped to allow Charles Leclerc to step up from F2 as part of a renewed partnership with engine supplier Ferrari, which also sees the Alfa Romeo name return to F1 for the first time in 30 years.