Maldo to replace Wehrlein at Sauber

[Scott]

That's interesting.  Something funny was up with Pascal missing in Oz.  I'm sure more details will turn up shortly, but according to the boys over at The Judge, Pascal is poised to join the team immediately. 

Hopefully he'll bring some much needed cash and stickers to the team as well. 

https://thejudge13.com/2017/03/31/maldonado-returns-to-f1-with-sauber/

[Dare]

Good try....what is today's date

[cosworth151]

There were rumors during the off season about Pastor going to Sauber.

[Dare]

Where's the money coming from. I thought he was backed by oil which isn't
doing very well....they only made billions profit the last few years

[Scott]

Good try....what is today's date

The story came out yesterday.  I don't know if all Maldo's sponsorship comes from oil, but whatever it is, it is more than any Swiss company is giving the team. 

[Dare]

Why not Giovinazzi?Did a good job in Autralia and F1 needs
a Italian driver

[lkjohnson1950]

Ferrari wants Giovinazzi in their pit. He is their last resort for 2018. Lots of contracts up this year. Vettel could stay with SEFAC or go to Mercedes. Kimi could stay or retire. Alonso might go to Merc or Ferrari, unless Honda pulls off a miracle. Lewis could stay with Merc or go to Ferrari, he has expressed interest in the Scuderia. Bottas is free. Massa is free. It will be interesting, but just in case, Ferrari want Gio familiar with the team. An Italian driver in a Ferrari, Magnifico!!

[Alianora La Canta]

Maldonado might possibly get the reserve driver gig if Giovanazzi becomes Wehrlein's replacement, simply because if Ferrari needs a replacement, Antonio would probably be summoned, Sauber drive or no. Pastor is, for all his faults, a Superlicence holder (unlike Tatiana Calderon, Sauber's other reserve driver), guaranteed to be available and generally a nice bloke out of the car.

None of this explains why Charles Leclerc isn't being considered ahead of Maldonado, what with being a Superlicence-eligible driver who Sauber signed as a development driver earlier in the year.

I think Sauber just found their new "6 drivers into 2 race seats" wheeze - except this is one that's almost certainly resolvable in a totally amicable way, in a way that attempt in 2015 never could have been.

[Warmwater]

Many people have told me today that Andre DeCezaris (sp) has signed up.

[John S]

Well I've heard Niki Lauda has decided to make another comeback. 

If he does good this year with the old Ferrari engine he's hoping Paddy will slot him into the spare Williams seat next year 

   

[cosworth151]

Now Sauber says that Antonio Giovinazzi will drive at Shanghai this week-end. That doesn't look promising for Vehrlein's future with the team.

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/pascal-wehrlein-miss-chinese-f1-grand-prix

[lkjohnson1950]

Kaltenborn insists it's a medical issue, well documented. Wehrlein will be re-evaluated before Bahrain. The team wants him at 100%.

[Robem64]

Kaltenborn insists it's a medical issue, well documented. Wehrlein will be re-evaluated before Bahrain. The team wants him at 100%.

If Giovinazzi has another good race in China maybe they'll need to re-evaluate the medical issue further 

[Scott]

Only problem is Ferrari wants to keep Giovinazzi as their reserve driver, so lending him for a race or two is one thing, but if something happens to either Ferrari driver, they would pull him from Sauber without notice.

[Alianora La Canta]

Only problem is Ferrari wants to keep Giovinazzi as their reserve driver, so lending him for a race or two is one thing, but if something happens to either Ferrari driver, they would pull him from Sauber without notice.

At which point they can ask for the next Ferrari driver in the Academy, since Charles Leclerc is also a Superlicence-holder.