We must save Private Wehrlein.

Pascal Wehrlein could find himself without a drive for 2018 after two mediocre seasons in Formula 1. Even with the support of Mercedes, the German has struggled to find his feet in the premier class of motorsport, where competition is fierce.

The real reason behind Nick Wehrlein's stalled 2018 campaign has less to do with his performance on the track than with the contractual maze that is now blocking his return to the grid. The 23-year-old German of Mauritian descent, a long-time Mercedes protégé with nearly 40 Grand Prix starts to his credit, looks set to finish the season without a drive. Wehrlein's resume should have opened doors for him. After a promising stint at Manor in 2016, where he scored the team's only point and outperformed his teammate Rio Haryanto, he found himself caught in the crossfire of Mercedes' internal talent pool, losing ground to his junior colleague Esteban Ocon. The German was deemed “not yet ready” to replace Nico Rosberg, prompting him to join Sauber at the last minute when the British team shut its doors.

At Sauber, Wehrlein quickly proved his worth. He finished eighth in the Spanish Grand Prix, his third race after missing the first round due to an accident during the winter at the Race of Champions, and added a point in the chaotic race in Azerbaijan, finishing ahead of his teammate Marcus Ericsson. Of the 11 races they both competed in, Wehrlein beat Ericsson seven times and contributed to all of Sauber's points that season. Despite these results, the driver's future with Mercedes-related teams appears to be in jeopardy. Sauber now uses Ferrari engines and is owned by a consortium closely linked to Ericsson's management, further reducing the chances of Mercedes support. A possible move to Williams, another Mercedes-powered team, is hampered by a sponsorship clause with main partner Martini that prohibits the signing of two young drivers as regulars. Furthermore, the media buzz surrounding Robert Kubica's expected return makes Williams even less inclined to take a chance on Wehrlein. As the hunt for seats for 2018 draws to a close, the most realistic option could be a return to the DTM, where Wehrlein won the 2015 championship for Mercedes. A year away from Formula 1 usually spells the end of a driver's F1 ambitions, and the combination of contractual restrictions and team politics could relegate Wehrlein to the growing list of promising talents whose careers have been compromised by circumstances.