Mercedes reserve Pascal Wehrlein is hoping the FIA will adjust its new-for-2016 super licence criteria, paving the way for him to make his Formula 1 debut next year.
The 20-year-old tested the Mercedes W05 last year during Abu Dhabi’s post-season test, leading to his appointment as reserve driver, a role he’s already had to fulfil during pre-season testing.
The German also has hundreds of miles of experience behind the wheel of Force India’s 2014 car. That’s enough to qualify for a licence this year, but not for the 2016 season.
That’s because the FIA now demands a driver collect 40 points by succeeding in junior categories such as GP2, GP3 and FR3.5 among others.
Wehrlein races in DTM, which isn’t included in the FIA’s criteria. Mercedes are therefore in discussion with the FIA in the hope they can alter the system to make exceptions for test drivers.
“Mercedes has discussed it with the FIA,” Wehrlein told Italy’s Tuttosport.
“This season would not be a problem, but in 2016 we will have the new system of points, so we’ll see.
“I have already done a lot of testing and so it should not be a problem to race next year in F1.”
Williams test driver Susie Wolff agrees, and believes the new points-based system risks the sport missing out on some of the best young talent.
“It can’t be like that,” she told Autosport. “Pascal is in a different place to me, he’s an up-and-coming driver. He’s a guy that it can’t limit the likes of him coming in.
“We’ve got to be aware of the fact that the time in a Formula 1 car is absolutely so valuable because it’s so limited.
“So every kilometre you can do gives you an advantage as a driver. It gives you experience and it can’t be overlooked completely.”
Discussion about this post