DTM: Disappointment for Müller and Mortara
PREMIERE IN BRANDS HATCH Audi factory driver Nico Müller's race debut in England was disappointing. Edoardo Mortara in the Mercedes also fell short of his potential. At least both DTM Swiss managed a result in the points. While Edoardo Mortara was on the grid at Brands Hatch in the last DTM guest race in 2013 (then at the Indy Circuit), the former [...]
While Edoardo Mortara had competed at Brands Hatch in 2013 (then at the Indy Circuit), the former GP circuit in England was new territory for Nico Müller. The fact that the two free practice sessions were not scheduled until Saturday and there was therefore little time to study the data did not make the task any easier for a rookie.
However, the driver from Berne got along brilliantly with his Audi RS5 DTM right from the start and, as third-fastest in the second free practice session, started optimistically into qualifying for the first race.
Unfortunately, he made a small mistake by almost spinning with the second new set of tires, which dropped him from the initial fourth to 13th on the grid.
Nico Müller: "We then tried to make the most of this starting position with an aggressive strategy. Unfortunately, it didn't work out because others also stopped very early. So I got stuck in traffic and even lost two places."
Advancing to the 10th position
After a disappointing Saturday, Sunday started promisingly for Müller with fourth place in the third free practice session. But in the decisive final phase of qualifying, an opponent in front of him threw dirt onto the track, ruining not only his chase for times but also that of compatriot Mortara.
Nico then found himself in 15th and Edo in 17th position on the grid. This time, the early pit stop in the second race earned the Audi driver at least one more point with 10th place.
Nico Müller: "Unfortunately, that was a frustrating weekend. I like challenging tracks like this. In practice and at the start of qualifying, you could see that there was more in it, but we just couldn't deliver. At least we know what we're capable of. So I'm looking forward to the next new race in two weeks' time under floodlights at Misano, where I'll be back on the attack."
Edoardo Mortara fared only slightly better in England. Starting from eighth on the grid, the Norisring winner had an uneventful race on Saturday, finishing eighth in the points.
On Sunday, the Geneva driver, who was flying the Italian flag, got off to a mega start. After a safety car period, the Mercedes driver was even in the top ten before the mandatory pit stop went wrong and he had to retire a few minutes before the end.
Three of his Mercedes colleagues proved what was possible. On Saturday, Daniel Juncadella celebrated his first DTM success, while on Sunday Paul di Resta and Gary Paffett ensured a British one-two in their home race.
Paffett clearly leads the 2018 DTM standings after twelve of 20 races with 177 points ahead of Di Resta (148) and Lucas Auer (Mercedes) and Marco Wittmann (BMW), who are tied with 110 points each. Mortara follows in fifth place with 101 points, Müller in 14th position of the 18 classified with only 30.
The best Audi driver in the current championship is René Rast in ninth place (77 points). The defending champion climbed onto the podium in third place on Sunday and practically. only sees a mathematical chance of winning the crown again. The Mercedes team seems to be too strong in its last DTM season.
