Wehrlein admits he is likely to leave Sauber after 2017

Pascal Wehrlein has admitted that the odds of him driving for Sauber next year are not very likely. Wehrlein was drafted into the team when Manor dropped from the grid at the end of last season. After Ferrari signed a multi-year deal to supply Sauber with engines, team principal Frederic Vasseur revealed that the Scuderia outfit would play a major role in settling Sauber's 2018 line-up.

With Ferrari juniors Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc ready to make the pounce into Formula 1, it is expected that one of them will replace Wehrlein at the team. Wehrlein himself is a Mercedes junior but it does not appear that there will be an opening at the senior team anytime soon.

Speaking at the Belgian Grand Prix, the 22-year-old admits that he doesn't think he will be retained: "I do not think I'll have a place at Sauber next year. It certainly looks as though Ferrari will use their young drivers," he told the German broadcaster Sky.

Wehrlein retired from the Belgian Grand Prix with a suspension problem, claiming that the weekend was difficult. He now shifts his focus to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend: "This weekend was a difficult one for me. We had an issue with the suspension on my car so, unfortunately, I had to retire from the race. I am now focusing on the next race and looking forward to having a new opportunity for a better result at Monza."

Fergal Walsh