Wehrlein eyes Manor ’upset’ in Melbourne

Pascal Wehrlein is determined to make his mark on formula one this year.

Backed by Mercedes, the reigning DTM champion makes his grand prix debut in 2016 with Manor, just as the backmarker team eyes a major step forward.

The team has secured the best engine on the grid, technology support from Williams, and well-known technical brains from Ferrari.

"We want to turn up at the weekend and be part of the event, not just to make up the numbers," said Dave Ryan, another new recruit who is putting the McLaren ’lie-gate’ scandal behind him as he returns to F1 in 2016.

Wehrlein, wearing his new Steve McQueen-style overalls, has driven the new blue and red Manor so far in Barcelona and seems impressed.

"My aim is to close the gap to the other drivers and hopefully do one or two highlights this year," the 21-year-old German told Die Welt newspaper.

"Who knows, maybe we can cause an upset in Melbourne."

He will be wanting to make an impression on his Mercedes paymasters in 2016, as the contract of the German marque’s long-time works driver Nico Rosberg is up for renewal.

Rosberg, however, thinks he is going nowhere.

"I’m sure there’s going to be many more years to go here at Mercedes," he said. "We’ve achieved so much and there’s even more to achieve in the future."