Müller: "I have nothing to lose" 🎥
INSURANCE FOR NÜRBURGRING If Nico Müller wants to keep his title chances alive, he has to make up points on championship leader René Rast on the penultimate DTM weekend. In a short interview, he explains how this can be achieved. A year ago, René Rast wrote a chapter in DTM history at the Nürburgring. Nico Müller's Audi colleague from Team Rosberg was the first driver ever to conquer [...]
A year ago, René Rast wrote a chapter in DTM history at the Nürburgring. Nico Müller's Audi colleague from Team Rosberg was the first driver ever to take pole position and then victory on both race days. In doing so, he secured the maximum 56 points in one weekend, something that no one had ever achieved before.
Ideally, Rast could already be champion
Should Rast repeat this feat this Saturday and Sunday in the Eifel, his second DTM drivers' title after 2017 would be out of his reach at the season finale at the Hockenheimring (October 5/6). His first rival from Switzerland wants to prevent that from happening.
A difficult, but not impossible task, which the Bernese is looking forward to.
Nico Müller: "It's nice to be in this situation and still have the chance to fight for the title in the final sprint. I really like the Nürburgring and it should also suit our car. We've had a strong package at every track this season. I'm confident that this will also be the case this weekend. The preparation went well, we know what to expect."
Points lead from qualifying
What is striking when looking at the table after 14 of 18 races is that the Swiss is the only one of the 18 drivers to have scored points in every race so far and has finished on the podium ten times. Once more than Rast, who is clearly ahead in terms of victories (5:2).
The German's lead is 20 points, with 27 points credited to him in qualifying alone. Müller only made it to one of the top three grid positions four times and thus scored seven additional points - which corresponds exactly to the difference in the standings. The score here is 234 to 214 for Rast.
Nico Müller: "So we scored exactly the same number of points in the races. That's why qualifying is an important factor. At the Lausitzring, I finally beat him again under my own steam (after he had previously only managed this in qualifying for Race 1 at the Norisring, editor's note). That was a good step that we can build on. We still need to find more performance in qualifying and establish an optimal starting position in order to continue to be in the top three on a regular basis. Maintaining this balancing act is the big challenge in the DTM this year and could ultimately be decisive in the title fight."
Maximum Attack
Müller's goal for races 15 and 16 on the 3.6-kilometer Nürburgring sprint track is clear anyway.
Nico Müller: "René will definitely be strong again. If we want to close the 20-point gap, we have to get the maximum out of the car and try to fight for victory in both races. The weather shouldn't have any influence."
Nothing to lose
Surprisingly, the professional, who drives for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, is not thinking much about the championship.
Nico Müller: "In my situation, I have the luxury of not having to do this - after all, I have nothing to lose. As second, we are in the chasing pack and can attack. Of course, it would be better to be able to defend. But in terms of approach, this situation is somewhat easier than for the hunted."
Proud of 100 races in the DTM
Both races at the Nürburgring start at the usual time at 1.30 pm. SAT.1 will broadcast live on both Saturday and Sunday from 1pm. Incidentally, Sunday's race will be Nico Müller's 100th in the DTM. He has contested all of them for Audi Sport since his debut in May 2014.
Nico Müller: "Achieving this mark in such a fiercely competitive series as the DTM makes me very proud."
