Wehrlein joins Sauber for 2017 season

Sauber have announced that Pascal Wehrlein, formerly of Manor, will complete the team’s driver line-up for the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship. Mercedes protege Wehrlein will partner Marcus Ericsson.

“I am very delighted at being a part of the Sauber F1 Team for the upcoming Formula One Season,” said Wehrlein. “It is a new challenge in a new team, and I am really excited and looking forward to this new adventure. Our objective is to establish ourselves in the mid-field and to score points on a regular basis.”

Wehrlein, 22, started his motorsport career in karting and proved his potential in junior single-seater racing, before moving into Germany’s DTM series with Mercedes. There he became the youngest debutant in 2013, the youngest race winner in 2014, and the youngest champion in 2015, before taking to the F1 grid with Manor last year.

“Now I am looking forward to meeting everyone in the team and to tackling the preparations for the 2017 season,” he added. “I want to say a big thank you to Sauber for trusting in me and giving me this great chance. And surely, a huge thanks also goes to Mercedes for the support.”

Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn commented: “Pascal has shown his talent throughout his career - in single seater racing as well as in the DTM. Last year in his rookie Formula One season, he proved his potential by scoring one point in the Austrian GP in Spielberg.

“There is surely more to come from Pascal, and we want to give him the chance to further grow and learn at the pinnacle of motorsport. I am confident Marcus and Pascal will form a solid combination for 2017.”

Sauber's announcement leaves just three unconfirmed seats on the 2017 grid: Lewis Hamilton's team mate at Mercedes - widely tipped to be Valtteri Bottas - and both drivers at Manor.