Pascal Wehrlein in Baku said it is “a shame” boss Monisha Kaltenborn was ousted from the Sauber team.
Sauber’s new owner has rejected rumours F1’s first female team boss lost her job following a dispute over making Wehrlein’s teammate Marcus Ericsson the clear number 1 driver.
“I do not want to comment on equality,” German Wehrlein said in Baku.
But it is rumoured Wehrlein and Kaltenborn were close, and Swede Ericsson – who is closely linked to Sauber’s new owners – admitted he has not spoken with his former boss following her departure.