Schneider wanted F1 break for Paffett
McLaren test driver Gary Paffett should have been the man to replace Juan Pablo Montoya this year, claims his former DTM teammate Bernd Schneider
Paffett and Schneider battled hard at Mercedes-Benz for last year's DTM crown, and Paffett triumphed before quitting the series and focusing his efforts on McLaren for this season.
And although the Briton was not handed an opportunity to show his racing abilities in the second half of this season, when Pedro de la Rosa filled in for Montoya, Schneider has no doubts about the job the youngster would have done.
"Honestly, I would love to see him in F1 because he was the guy to beat in the DTM," said Schneider, who was a guest at Sunday's Autosport Awards. "He came into the championship and he did not only win races to be in top, but be came and blew everyone away.
"I would have loved to see him replace Montoya, because Kimi would have had a hard time."
Paffett has just re-signed as a McLaren test driver for another season, and looks set to return to the DTM next year before attempting to land an F1 race drive for 2008.
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