Pascal Wehrlein to miss Chinese GP

[patmahe]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128780...

Must be quite serious to miss another GP, can't imagine he's making these decisions lightly given it gives his replacement another chance to shine.

[anonymous-user]

patmahe said:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128780...

Must be quite serious to miss another GP, can't imagine he's making these decisions lightly given it gives his replacement another chance to shine.

Very strange situation.

Must be much more serious than anyone is letting on.

The way Monisha Kaltenborn lost it with the negative press about him missing Australia it obviously she knows a lot more but is not saying.

Imagine if he had got the nod for Mercedes.

[Vaud]

I hope Antonio Giovinazzi gets another race...

[StevieBee]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Imagine if he had got the nod for Mercedes.

He would now be about to start his second race weekend for Mercedes.

[Crafty_]

Vaud said:

I hope Antonio Giovinazzi gets another race...

+1 He did a good job in Australia given the seat time..

Pascal looked a bit feckless about this in Australia. Either he's being a bit of a nancy boy about it or he's got a serious issue that is endangering his career.

[Vaud]

Crafty_ said:

+1 He did a good job in Australia given the seat time..

Pascal looked a bit feckless about this in Australia. Either he's being a bit of a nancy boy about it or he's got a serious issue that is endangering his career.

He did a stunning job.

I feel for Pascal, its a bit of a no win situation. Tough to simulate car g-forces until you are in it. Surely it is more mature to flag the issue than to risk a DNF?

[bunglesprout]

Strange situation when you consider the testing mileage he did. I'm guessing he will miss Barhain as well. Giovinazzi did an excellent job in Australia, its good to see a rookie grab his opportunity with both hands, and hopefully it will lead to something permanent, funded by Ferrari (perhaps Haas next year?). I get the impression Wherlein isnt particularly popular in the paddock and there doesn't seem to be much sympathy for him.

[FW18]

Pascal is known for being difficult to work with so not much sympathy for him at the moment. Certainly more to this than meets the eye, Ferrari money been used to give Kimi's replacement some race expirience?

[Vaud]

FW18 said:

Pascal is known for being difficult to work with so not much sympathy for him at the moment. Certainly more to this than meets the eye, Ferrari money been used to give Kimi's replacement some race expirience?

I'd like them to risk the 2nd seat on a rookie, but is he ready for the limelight? The Italian press are equally supportive and destructive of Ferrari drivers. Maybe a year in a Haas or whoever else has a Ferrari engine next year?

Don't get me wrong, he looks seriously impressive, but I'd hate him to have a baptism of fire in a 2018 Ferrari and not have the chance to get some experience first.

[rubystone]

Vaud said:

FW18 said:

Pascal is known for being difficult to work with so not much sympathy for him at the moment. Certainly more to this than meets the eye, Ferrari money been used to give Kimi's replacement some race expirience?

I'd like them to risk the 2nd seat on a rookie, but is he ready for the limelight? The Italian press are equally supportive and destructive of Ferrari drivers. Maybe a year in a Haas or whoever else has a Ferrari engine next year?

Don't get me wrong, he looks seriously impressive, but I'd hate him to have a baptism of fire in a 2018 Ferrari and not have the chance to get some experience first.

I don't get this negativity about Wehrlein. Friends in DTM don't talk of his being difficult - Ocon yes, him no. I agree about Gio though, he's a real talent

[Crafty_]

Vaud said:

I feel for Pascal, its a bit of a no win situation. Tough to simulate car g-forces until you are in it. Surely it is more mature to flag the issue than to risk a DNF?

Its weird though - he did the pre season tests, does a couple of practice sessions and then decides he isn't fit enough ? did he ot have any inkling during the tests after a few fast laps that he had a problem - pain, sore muscles etc ?

All for injuries that from the moment the accident happened have been reported as minor.

He looked very nonchalant about it all in Australia too. I can't help but think something else is going on. Are Sauber taking Ferrari's money to see how Gio does and Pascal has pushed aside because Ericsson is associated with the new owners ? After all Pascal is lucky to have a drive given the departure of Manor.

[pits]

Wehrlein has yet to impress me and comes across as a bit of a cock, rather see Gio in the seat, he's been awesome in GP2

[HardtopManual]

I'm not convinced he's even worth the Sauber seat. He comes across as a bit of a twunt, which as a team you'd forgive if you're hiring a multiple WDC winner, not so much if you're hiring someone who didn't do anything of note in his first year in the formula.

[Arklight]

Has anyone actually said what his injury is, i just see reports saying "fitness concerns". They are fuelling the rumour mill themselves by not being open about the supposed injury.

But as others have said, Gio is excellent and it will be great to see him again.

[Crafty_]

In Australia he complained about neck strain.

[Cold]

Arklight said:

Has anyone actually said what his injury is, i just see reports saying "fitness concerns". They are fuelling the rumour mill themselves by not being open about the supposed injury.

But as others have said, Gio is excellent and it will be great to see him again.

Many of the usual pundits are exchanging similar views about the air of mystery surrounding the injury claims.

[rubystone]

HardtopManual said:

I'm not convinced he's even worth the Sauber seat. He comes across as a bit of a twunt, which as a team you'd forgive if you're hiring a multiple WDC winner, not so much if you're hiring someone who didn't do anything of note in his first year in the formula.

In his first year he drove a car that was very much anchored to the back of the grid. Anyone who beats the likes of sometime F1 drivers Paffett and Di Resta in the same car in DTM can't be useless. DTM is so close nowadays that there isn't one dominant car - it's very much down to the skill of the drivers.

I must've watched 90% of the entire Sky output on F1 last year and don't recall him every acting as a 'twunt' Did this trait manifest itself in a C4 interview by any chance?

[Tyre Smoke]

Echo the comments about pundits speculating this is not the full picture.

Martin Brundle rightly said any F1 driver would do anything to be driving a car, not take the easy option and succumb to 'injury'.

With this in mind, Pascal is either fundamentally lazy (highly unlikely) and is enjoying all the travel without the 'hassle' of working for it.

Is seriously not fit - but he looks it.

Politics at play.

I would suspect there's politics at play here. Sauber are borassic, are they playing both sides off against the middle using Pascal as the pawn?

[Likes Fast Cars]

Maybe he “did a Montoya” … tennis (motorbike riding) anyone?

[FourWheelDrift]

Tyre Smoke said:

I would suspect there's politics at play here. Sauber are borassic, are they playing both sides off against the middle using Pascal as the pawn?

In a "yes we are paying for your 2016 engine for this year, but if we were to give your reserve driver seat time and maybe even a permanent race seat this year could you allow us to use your 2017 engine for no extra charge"