Wehrlein and Mercedes/HWA failed to agree on 2018 FE debut
Pascal Wehrlein and Mercedes/HWA failed to reach a conclusion over "certain pre-requisites" required to end his contract early and allow his Formula E debut in 2018, says Ulrich Fritz.

Wehrlein will leave the Mercedes motorsport family at the end of 2018, but was announced as a Mahindra Racing ABB FIA FE driver for the 2018/19 championship on the eve of pre-season testing and completed the three-day test at Valencia.
But he was replaced by Felix Rosenqvist for last weekend's season five opener in Ad Diriyah, as Wehrlein's Mercedes contract does not end until December 31.
He will make his Mahindra debut at the second round of the FE season in Marrakech.
When asked to clarify the situation, HWA FE team principal Fritz told Motorsport.com: "We didn't want to stand in Pascal's way at all – that's why we agreed to the [Valencia] test.
"But we also always said that certain pre-requisites would need to be fulfilled to release him from his current contract.
"There were negotiations, but we didn't finally come to a conclusion.
"Why this is or why this is not I don't want to go into detail because I don't like to wash dirty laundry that needs to stay between the parties in public.
"However, I can assure you we did not want to intentionally stand in his way. [The talks were] with Pascal – I don't have a relationship with Mahindra.
"That's why we allowed the test – we were surprised to read that he was directly announced as a driver. That was not something we knew before.
"But maybe it's only a misunderstanding, I don't want to blame people for something, but the situation is like it is."
Mahindra team boss Dilbagh Gill had "no comment" to make to Motorsport.com regarding Wehrlein's Mercedes contract.
Fritz had previously explained that Wehrlein and Mercedes had discussed him making the switch to FE with HWA, but talks did not progress further as the ex-Manor and Sauber Formula 1 driver is focused on making a return to grand prix racing.
The HWA CEO stated that the current situation was "not at all" related to that development.
"To be honest, there was these talks in the summer," Fritz explained. "I had a feeling that Pascal was not really keen on doing it and therefore for us it was a chapter which was closed quite early.
"That's what I really want to emphasise, it's not that we want to intentionally keep him back or do something that harms his career because he didn't want to do it at that point of time.
"I did understand his decision at that point of time. It is not that he had an offer – that is something which I also read on the internet – it was not the case.
"There were early talks – he did a test with a Gen1 car with Venturi, he did an OK performance there and it didn't go any further.
"But this situation with Mahindra doesn't have anything to do with it."

Pascal Wehrlein, Mahindra Racing, M5 Electro
Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images

Previous article
Formula E considering increased attack mode power
Next article
McNish: Attack mode the "mix-up" FE needed

About this article
Series | Formula E |
Drivers | Pascal Wehrlein |
Teams | HWA AG |
Author | Alex Kalinauckas |
Wehrlein and Mercedes/HWA failed to agree on 2018 FE debut
Why the new Formula E season got off to such a controversial start
With the new Formula E season belatedly getting underway in Saudi Arabia, the championship appeared to try to make up for lost time with an overspill of action and controversy on and off the track. While some talking points could have serious repercussions, it was an explosive opener for many reasons.
The eight major plotlines to watch in Formula E 2021
The delayed 2020-21 Formula E season gets underway this week with a double-header in Saudi Arabia. The testing times were too close to call a favourite, but that's not the only area of interest to follow as the championship enters a crucial year
Why Formula E's 2021 season will be a crucial litmus test
As off-track politics threatens to overshadow events on it, the upcoming Formula E season is perhaps its most important since the championship's inception. And that's a shame, given that the focus should be on what promises to be its closest title fight yet.
How Mercedes and Porsche can avoid a difficult second FE album
Mercedes and Porsche compete to win and have done so across the board: in Formula 1, sportscars, the Dakar Rally and endurance road races - even working together to break land speed records. Next in the crosshairs is the Formula E teams' championship crown.
What Formula E must do for McLaren to act on its attraction
News that McLaren is formally considering a Formula E move is a much-needed boost for a series that took some punches at the end of 2020. But to allay any doubts that Zak Brown may have, FE must take action on its biggest potential stumbling block
Why BMW and Audi have pulled the plug on Formula E
BMW and Audi shocked the Formula E fraternity by announcing their departures at the end of the 2020-21 season. Overnight, the championship has been dealt something of a "wake-up call" - including questions about its relevance to manufacturers.
What we learned from Formula E's Valencia test
There was no shortage of intrigue surrounding Formula E's pre-season test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, dominated by talk of Audi's impending exit. But it still served to whet appetites for the start of another competitive season in January
The logic behind Audi’s surprise change of course
OPINION: Audi announcing its imminent Formula E departure on the eve of its first season with world championship status might come as something of a shock. But while it doesn't equate to a rejection of VW's electrification push, there is reason to it...