With Mercedes set to enter Formula E in just over two years time, attention will quickly turn to which two drivers will represent the German manufacturer in their first season.
One would presume Mercedes has a blank cheque and will be an extremely attractive prospect given their Formula 1 success and perceived monumental commitment to Formula E.
Jaguar is the latest manufacturer to tackle Formula E and they arguably underestimated the huge challenge the sport presents. It also entered with a rather underwhelming driver line-up, totally comprised of rookies.
Mercedes won’t make the same mistake, they deferred their entry by a year in order to fully prepare for their arrival. They are completely serious and will want to win from their very first season. Whether or not they can build a powertrain capable worthy of rivals Renault or Audi is unknown, however, with the pool of drivers available, there is no doubt that if Mercedes can choose two drivers with the ability to make Mercedes’ Formula E mission a roaring success.
When the news was announced, many fans jumped straight to 2016 Formula 1 drivers’ champion Nico Rosberg, the 32-year-old enjoyed great success with Mercedes before calling it quits at the end of last year. He’s quick on street circuits and may be more suited to the Formula E environment than the toxic tabloid F1 world.
However, when Rosberg said he’s done with racing, he really meant it. Since he announced his retirement, he’s found a new lease of life and seems to have little desire to return to racing, and even if he did, he’s not the best option available for Mercedes.
But Felix Rosenqvist is.
The Swede was extremely quick from his very first time in a Formula E car unlike anybody before him. It’s easy to forget Rosenqvist is still a rookie in the series. He qualified sixth on his debut in Hong Kong and came extremely close to winning the race.
Fast forward to the end of the season, and he now arguably holds the key to the championship fight. Along with Formula E veteran Sam Bird, Rosenqvist is the only driver in the field who can take it to Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi on a regular basis.
Inconsistency is his only flaw but Mahindra has to take a certain level of responsibility for this. He has Nick Heidfeld as his team-mate; wise, experienced and as fast as ever. Despite all this, he sits 26 points ahead of the German. His double podium which included his maiden victory in Berlin was a sign of what Rosenqvist can do when everything goes right.
Though of course, everything didn’t, his race two penalty was a result of a team error and prevented him from taking the double. That kind of form makes him the most likely man to join di Grassi and Buemi in fighting for the championship in season four.
Rosenqvist isn’t interested in playing mind games or intra-team politics. He’s straightforward and highly likeable off the track and ruthless and clinical on the track.
He’s shown over the last 12 months that he can be fast in any car he drives, so however the sport evolves, Rosenqvist will always be a man at the top of every team’s shopping lists.
A future in IndyCar will be tempting but the competition is fierce and it’s a tough sport to crack into. If he commits to Formula E, he easily has the potential to challenge for multiple titles and would be the perfect ambassador for the Silver Arrows.
But who should partner Rosenqvist?
We’ve established Rosberg might not be the most viable option but there is another Formula 1 driver in Mercedes’ ranks that they could call upon.
Esteban Ocon is surely the future of their F1 project, a move to Force India presented him with the potential for his big break, and he’s seized it with both hands. Driving into his team-mate in Azerbaijan aside, Ocon has enjoyed a great season and should Valtteri Bottas or Lewis Hamilton leave Mercedes, the Frenchman would probably be best placed to replace them.
This leaves Pascal Wehrlein on the F1 scrap heap, undeservingly so but in the current climate of the sport, he could find himself without a seat as earlier as 2018. Should Sauber switch to Honda power and a Japanese junior be brought in as part of the deal, Wehrlein would likely be the one who was cut considering who Marcus Ericsson’s backers are.
Even if the Honda deal falls through and they work out a deal with Ferrari, Formula 2 sensation Charles Leclerc would probably take his seat.
However even if he is snubbed by F1, Formula E would welcome him with open arms, and he’s the young talent that could drive Mercedes’ entry. Wehrlein has been with the German manufacturer for a number of years, and although rumours surrounding his supposed attitude problem won’t go away, Mercedes seem to have no problem working with the 22-year-old.
Like Rosenqvist, Wehrlein has shown he can drive a multitude of cars and be successful. His inexperience didn’t hold him back when he triumphed against much more experienced drivers in his DTM title fight in 2015.
Great qualifying form and lightening fast race starts has characterised his short F1 career so far, and he would fit the one-day Formula E format perfectly. Furthermore, he’s adapted well to the high-degradation Pirelli rubber and seems an intelligent driver who would thrive with the high energy management demands in Formula E.
Wehrlein could continue to chase a top F1 drive which will likely never surface or he could be one of the leading men in Mercedes’ pursuit of electric glory. If Mercedes begin planning now, they could find Wehrlein a seat for the next two seasons in preparation for their entry in season six.
By 2019, Rosenqvist could be a Formula E champion and Pascal Wehrlein will have furthered his development as Mercedes’ future champion, perfectly setting up what could be an unbeatable duo to mark the dawn of a brave new age for the Silver Arrows.
