Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein focused on DTM, not F1
Mercedes protege Pascal Wehrlein says his focus remains on winning the DTM championship, despite the prospect that he'll step up to Formula 1 next year
The German was named as Mercedes' reserve driver one year ago, and has represented the reigning world champion in F1 tests regularly since, along with several appearances for customer squad Force India.
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff acknowledges that he's keen to find a way into F1 for the 20-year-old, who says that any move is out of both his mind and hands.
Having led the standings after the Saturday race of the preceding two DTM rounds, Wehrlein left last weekend's Oschersleben event with a 14-point advantage over Mattias Ekstrom.
"The DTM championship is very tough," Wehrlein told AUTOSPORT.
"For the third weekend in a row I'm leading [on the Saturday], then Ekstrom was leading [after the Sunday race] and now I'm going to the Nurburgring with the lead.
"It's still very close, we can score 100 points. Now I'll just try my best, do my best job and then other people will make a decision for next year."
With two DTM rounds remaining, the series concludes at former German Grand Prix venue Hockenheim on October 18, Wehrlein says he is shutting Wolff's comments out of his mind completely.
"At the moment I don't think about it," he added.
"Because if I would think about next year, and forget about this year and not be focused any more, then for sure you would see it in my performances."
Sauber has eye on 2016 F1 car with update for Singapore Grand Prix
Williams sure it will match Ferrari with F1 Singapore GP upgrade
Suzuki didn't see its tough start to 2017 MotoGP season coming
Suzuki didn't see its tough start to 2017 MotoGP season coming Suzuki didn't see its tough start to 2017 MotoGP season coming
Miller sick of Honda MotoGP bike's continued acceleration deficit
Miller sick of Honda MotoGP bike's continued acceleration deficit Miller sick of Honda MotoGP bike's continued acceleration deficit
The winners and losers of MotoGP's reshuffle
The winners and losers of MotoGP's reshuffle The winners and losers of MotoGP's reshuffle
Dennis critical of "plonker" Ticktum after Sao Paulo E-Prix clash
Dennis critical of "plonker" Ticktum after Sao Paulo E-Prix clash Dennis critical of "plonker" Ticktum after Sao Paulo E-Prix clash
Wehrlein accepts full blame for Buemi Cape Town FE clash
Wehrlein accepts full blame for Buemi Cape Town FE clash Wehrlein accepts full blame for Buemi Cape Town FE clash
Why it's wrong to mock Wehrlein for his forfeit
Why it's wrong to mock Wehrlein for his forfeit Why it's wrong to mock Wehrlein for his forfeit
Mercedes still needs to dial out a “nasty” rear end of F1 car
Mercedes still needs to dial out a “nasty” rear end of F1 car Mercedes still needs to dial out a “nasty” rear end of F1 car
Mercedes F1 has climbed from "awful" in Monaco to "not good"
Mercedes F1 has climbed from "awful" in Monaco to "not good" Mercedes F1 has climbed from "awful" in Monaco to "not good"
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500
Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500 Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500
Kanaan, Castroneves battled over 15th in Indy 500 like it was “for the win”
Kanaan, Castroneves battled over 15th in Indy 500 like it was “for the win” Kanaan, Castroneves battled over 15th in Indy 500 like it was “for the win”
Piastri learned from following Verstappen in wet Monaco GP
Piastri learned from following Verstappen in wet Monaco GP Piastri learned from following Verstappen in wet Monaco GP
Revealed: Three key speed secrets of Newgarden's Indy 500 win
Revealed: Three key speed secrets of Newgarden's Indy 500 win Revealed: Three key speed secrets of Newgarden's Indy 500 win
Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate
Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate
Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks? Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.