Maro Engel delivered a commanding victory in the second race of the DTM season at the Red Bull Ring, confirming Mercedes-AMG’s strength in a weekend defined by intensity and competition. The experienced driver secured his third career win in the series after 37 hard-fought laps, ending a winless streak that dated back to June 2023.
"I am overjoyed to finally have won a race again. This win feels all the better after what happened on Saturday. The key was a super start, when I raced straight through to second place", said Engel, highlighting the decisive moment that shaped his race.
Perfect launch sets the tone
Right from the lights, Engel made his intentions clear. With a brilliant start, he gained three positions and immediately moved into second place behind pole-sitter Kelvin van der Linde. From there, the pressure remained constant, with Lucas Auer staying close and securing a place in the top three early on.
The race began to unfold through pit stop strategies. Engel took the lead after the first round of stops, while Marco Wittmann opted for an aggressive early pit strategy, gaining multiple positions and quickly joining the fight at the front after overtaking both van der Linde and Auer.
Controlled drive to the finish
Once in the lead, Engel never looked back. Even after the second mandatory pit stop, he maintained full control and steadily extended his advantage. He eventually crossed the finish line 4.857 seconds clear of Wittmann, sealing a victory built on precision, pace, and composure.
Behind him, Wittmann was one of the standout performers, climbing from ninth on the grid to finish second. "An unbelievably good result! We had quick pit stops, and I was able to gain several places immediately after the first tyre change. Lucas Auer got extremely close to me at one point. I could not allow a single mistake", he said.
Lucas Auer completed the podium, securing another strong result at his home event after finishing second on Saturday. "On the podium twice at my home event — it doesn’t get much better than that. Strategy was crucial, and the team did a fantastic job. The atmosphere was amazing all weekend", the Austrian added.
Further down, Jules Gounon and Nicki Thiim completed the top five, while Kelvin van der Linde was unable to convert pole position into a strong result, finishing sixth. The race once again highlighted the incredible competitiveness of the DTM, with multiple manufacturers in contention and intense battles throughout the field.
With 51,000 spectators in attendance, the season opener at the Austrian circuit confirmed the DTM as one of the most exciting and unpredictable championships in motorsport. And in Spielberg, it became clear that a perfect start can make all the difference between victory… and simply fighting for the podium.
