Nico Müller: A good feeling like never before
DTM START IN HOCKENHEIM This weekend, Hockenheim will be under the spell of the DTM. Nico Müller and with him many Swiss fans are looking forward to the season opener with excitement. "I feel more prepared than ever before..." He was itching immensely, Nico Müller explained his emotional state on Monday evening, as family, friends, sponsors and special guests joined him at his [...]
He was itching immensely, Nico Müller explained his emotional state on Monday evening as family, friends, sponsors and special guests listened intently to him at his exclusive "Nico's Race Lounge" event at AutoScout24's headquarters in Flamatt.
The itch comes from tension and joyful anticipation. For him, as for most Swiss fans, the season opener in Hockenheim is something of a home game. And no one knows what it will bring.
As well prepared as never before
The 26-year-old from Berne repeated what he already emphasized to AutoSprintCH some time ago: he feels better prepared than ever before.
Nico Müller: "I'm taking a relatively relaxed approach. I spent a lot of time with Team Abt in the Allgäu region and with my new race engineer over the winter. I had a good feeling in the new Audi during the tests at Hockenheim. I feel better prepared than ever before."
Many changes in the environment
18 factory drivers from Audi, BMW and Mercedes will take part in free practice at Hockenheim on Friday and qualifying for the first race of the afternoon on Saturday morning. In addition, there will be a 19th car for guest driver Mattias Ekström, to whom Audi Sport is hereby giving a farewell present.
Only then will he know where Nico Müller will stand.
Nico Müller: "Every one of us Audi drivers can win races. But I'm not really worried about it. I've got as good a feeling as never before and am doing my best. Then we'll see what comes of it."
In the environment of the driver from Berne, who is tackling his fifth season with Audi, a lot has happened in recent months. With the fast Dutchman Robin Frijns (former Sauber F1 reserve driver and 2017 Blancpain GT Champion), he's got a new and arrow-quick teammate to replace Ekström. Plus a new race engineer who comes from Audi Sport's performance department.
Less downforce, more driving fun and action
The driver from Berne also has to get used to the handling of his new Audi RS5 DTM, which now - gone are the days of the playboy - comes in Castrol Edge colors. Changes in the aerodynamics result in reduced downforce. This makes the cars more unstable.
The airflow in the front of the car is less complex, which means that the aerodynamics are less sensitive when the car in front is closely followed. Overtaking should now become less difficult. Measures that should benefit the sport and thus the spectators.
Nico Müller: "You really notice the lower downforce. We're slipping more now. So, in percentage terms, we are now more dependent on the tires than on the aerodynamics. The field will move closer together. You now have to get the setup as good as possible to optimize the mechanical grip. This will make the difference."
All races live on SAT.1 and ORF
The DTM will be held at ten events in 2018. As before, with one race each on Saturday and Sunday with separate qualifying. Anyone spending their summer vacation on the Adriatic in August can combine it with a visit to the DTM: From August 24 to 26, the seaside resort of Misano will host a DTM night race for the first time.
All 20 DTM races will be broadcast live on TV on SAT.1 and ORF in the 2018 season. The two races from Hockenheim will be shown by SAT.1 in the "ran racing" program on Saturday and Sunday, both from 1. p.m. onwards. The Austrians will go on air from 1.15 p.m. on both days.
The races will start at 1.30 p.m. each day. All free practice sessions, qualifying sessions and races will be shown live on DTM.com and in the official DTM app.
The beginning of the season is enormously important
And what does Nico Müller expect of himself at the start of the season?
Nico Müller: "My goal is to be one of the best Audi drivers and to finish in the top five at Hockenheim. The beginning of the season is enormously important. Then we're allowed to drive as fast as we want and can. Because we all know that the manufacturers set priorities at some point and we then have to put our own interests behind them."
Let's hope that, unlike 2017, it won't come to that....
