Toto Wolff reveals the nature of Pascal Wehrlein’s injury

In an interview with RTL television channel, Toto Wolff discussed the issue currently preventing Pascal Wehrlein from taking his place in the Sauber cockpit since the first Grand Prix in Australia.

The young German driver, nurtured by Mercedes, had been involved in a spectacular accident during the Race of Champions last January. His car collided with Felipe Massa’s and flipped over, injuring Wehrlein’s neck and back.

We already knew that his winter preparation had been disrupted by this accident and its consequences. But in Australia, the German’s withdrawal just before FP3 had raised concerns, as did his new replacement for the Chinese Grand Prix.

To silence the rumors, Toto Wolff decided to reveal the true nature of his driver’s injury: During the accident, a vertebra in his neck was compressed and broke. He was lucky it wasn’t more serious. For weeks, he couldn’t move because he was wearing a brace and therefore couldn’t prepare properly. Ultimately, he didn’t have the strength to drive the car.

Several observers did not hesitate to point out that his replacement, Antonio Giovinazzi, was preferred by Sauber because of his link with Ferrari, which supplies the power units to the Swiss team. Wehrlein, a driver supported by Mercedes, had already stirred controversy earlier in the year by keeping the German company’s logo on his helmet.

But Wolff is keen to point out that the decision for Wehrlein’s withdrawal was made in close collaboration with Sauber: « It was a wise decision that Monisha [Kaltenborn] and I discussed together. There are many controversies in Formula 1, whether on or off the track. But we get along very well with Ferrari. Monisha supports Pascal 100%. He wants to skip another race. And I think it’s good that Giovinazzi has a new opportunity. He knows how to drive a car. Pascal will come back and show that he is capable of doing even better. »