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.
“Estou extremamente feliz por finalmente voltar a vencer. Esta vitória sabe ainda melhor depois do que aconteceu no sábado. A chave foi um arranque fantástico, onde consegui subir imediatamente para segundo lugar”, 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. “Um resultado absolutamente incrível! Tivemos paragens muito rápidas e consegui ganhar várias posições logo após a primeira troca de pneus. O Lucas Auer aproximou-se bastante, e não podia cometer qualquer erro”, he said.
Lucas Auer completed the podium, securing another strong result at his home event after finishing second on Saturday. “Dois pódios na minha corrida de casa — não podia pedir muito mais. A estratégia foi fundamental e a equipa fez um excelente trabalho. O ambiente foi fantástico durante todo o fim de semana”, 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.