Wehrlein turned down HWA drive to focus on F1 return
- Published on 10 Oct 2018 15:18
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- By: Fergal Walsh
HWA AG boss Ulrich Fritz has revealed that Pascal Wehrlein turned down a long-term contract with the team to race in Formula E. HWA, which is a part of the Mercedes company, will enter its maiden Formula E season this year which kicks off in December.
Wehrlein will part ways with Mercedes at the end of 2018 as the German manufacturer is unable to currently place the former Manor and Sauber driver in a competitive racing seat.
Wehrlein is working on his return to Formula 1 after sitting on the sidelines in 2018. A return to Sauber is now impossible as the Hinwil outfit has confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi will race for them next year.
But the German has been linked with a move to Toro Rosso, who is yet to confirm Daniil Kvyat's 2019 teammate: "At the time when we would have liked to have made the decision [Formula E deal], Pascal's focus was very clear: to return to F1.
"I don't want to set up a Formula E team where, after two races, a driver says that he'll be going straight back because he wants to enter F1," said Fritz. "The expectation of us was that Pascal would then decide in favour of FE in the longer term.
"He couldn't and didn't want to do that at that moment. [That was] understood, respected and accepted. Accordingly, this project did not come about in its present form. We never really got into any further talks. Because it just didn't fit together."
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Replies (6)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Super GT it is then? ;)
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Let' hope so. he has had his change in F1. But who knows what RedBull decides.
KyalamiKid
Posts: 146
I wouldnt mind seeing him up against Kvyat.
I also think he deserves another chance in a more decent car than the 2017 Sauber (with which he finished half the races they both started in front of Kvyat)
Kean
Posts: 692
There are also rumors of Albon joining Toro Rosso, however he has in fact signed with Nissan in FE to be Buemi's team mate. I'm betting he'll jump ship if Toro Rosso comes aknockin.
gazoom
Posts: 78
I believe Wehrlein deserves another shot at F1. He’s only driven a Sauber that gave him no real chance of succes, I’d put him in the STR and see what he can do!
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
He would probably do better than Hartley has been doing. I like Hartley but he just hasn't impressed in F1 like he has done in other series.