Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein has given some insight into why he was overlooked for a Mercedes drive during the winter.
When world champion Nico Rosberg retired at the end of last year, he vacated one of the most desirable seats on the Formula One grid. Wehrlein, who has a young driver contract with Mercedes, was in the running to replace Rosberg, but ultimately the world champions picked Valtteri Bottas to partner Lewis Hamilton this year.
Wehrlein was placed at Sauber in order to learn his trade at the back of the grid for another season, but said he understood the reasons for the decision.
"Toto [Wolff, Mercedes boss] explained he thought it would be good to have more experience, one year is not enough, especially as second year drivers are always making big progress," Wehrlein said. "I think Mercedes wants to have a ready and perfect driver and at their limit -- at the moment I am not at my limit. I could be with experience, that is clear.
"With one year of experience you are not at your limit and you will do some mistakes. Sometimes you will go in the wrong direction with the set-up because you lack experience. If you have five years of knowledge and experience, or even more, the mistakes are a lot less than with one year."
Bottas is only on a one year deal at Mercedes, but Wehrlein said he is not yet thinking about the possibility of replacing the Finn in 2018.
"I don't know. I'm focusing on this year. I am a Sauber driver and I want to do the maximum I can do in this team, this year. Then let's see what happens next year. It could be anything."