DTM: Two podiums for Edo, points for Nico
WEATHER CAPTRIES IN ITALY The first night races of the DTM at Misano brought Edoardo Mortara two podium places and Nico Müller twelve points. More would have been possible had it not been for bad strategy in changeable weather conditions. From the location directly on the Adriatic coast, the weekend in Santamonica/Misano near Rimini would actually have been pure vacation atmosphere. Unfortunately, the weather [...]
From the location directly on the Adriatic coast at the weekend in Santamonica/Misano near Rimini actually pure vacation mood would have prevailed. Unfortunately, the weather did not show its best side. Both races took place on Saturday and Sunday in the late evening under floodlights and in changeable weather conditions.
For Edoardo Mortara, a dual citizen of Geneva competing under the Italian flag for Mercedes, it was a home race. All the more reason for him and the tifosi to be delighted when Edo finished both races on the podium - the first in third place, the second in second.
On Saturday, victory went to his teammate Paul di Resta, on Sunday to BMW driver Joel Eriksson.
More would have been possible for Nico Müller
In Misano, Nico Müller virtually returned to his roots. Ten years ago, at the beginning of his car racing career, he competed there in Formula Renault. Relatively quickly, the man from Berne settled into the circuit in his Audi RS5 DTM from Team Abt.
Starting eleventh, Müller was in fourth position in the first race on a wet track until the first of two safety car phases and started sixth after the second yellow phase. He then lost two positions in an unsuccessful overtaking attempt past Mortara, but then advanced to fifth place despite the failure of the DRS (adjustable rear wing).
That earned him ten points. Meanwhile, his Abt teammate Robin Frjins celebrated his first podium in his 13th DTM race in second place.
On Sunday, he qualified seventh on a drying track, but was unlucky with the timing of the tire change in the race.
Nico Müller: "I pitted early to change from rain tires to slicks. Unfortunately, rain set in again right after that, so I changed again. At least I still finished tenth and scored more points."
Victory for a rookie
BMW proved that the tire poker can also end differently with the strategy for Joel Eriksson and guest driver Alessandro Zanardi. Unlike all the other competitors, Eriksson started on slicks. As a result, the rookie even dropped back to 18th place in the early stages.
But the Swede changed to rain tires in good time, because one lap later the safety car had to come out after Lucas Auer spun. This gave the 20-year-old an advantage that was to last until the end.
The leg-amputated Zanardi advanced from the back of the field to fifth place with still amazing driving skills and luck in tire strategy. Because the local hero did not score any points, Müller appears in ninth place in the standings.
Müller therefore knows that much more would have been possible at the DTM's Italian round.
Nico Müller: "It was a mixed weekend. The pace was there, but we missed big opportunities. It's a shame, but we'll keep attacking and hope that luck will once again be on our side."
Mercedes before the title win
While Frjins and Eriksson have moved up to 11th and 12th in the championship standings, Müller has slipped to 15th despite scoring double points. Only three drivers follow behind him.
Edoardo Mortara remains a good third (138 points). Di Resta is the new leader of the standings with 186 points to 177 after a zero lap by his compatriot Gary Paffett in another Mercedes.
The next two races will be held at the Nürburgring on September 8/9. With three events still to go (followed by Spielberg/A and the Hockenheim finale), a title win by a Mercedes driver is in the air.
