The start of the DTM weekend at the Red Bull Ring confirmed a highly competitive field, with Mercedes-AMG taking center stage in free practice. Lucas Auer, racing on home soil, stood out by leading the second session, which served as a qualifying simulation using the new Pirelli slick tyres.
Auer set the fastest lap of the day with a time of 1:28.204, showing early pace capable of putting him in contention for top positions. "That was a good start to my home event. We will see in Saturday's first qualifying session how we get on with the new tyre. Driving at this great circuit is always very special for me. The first three corners will be particularly important in the races, as they are the best places to overtake", said the Austrian driver.
Mercedes-AMG’s dominance was clear in this key session, with Jules Gounon and Maro Engel completing the top three, separated by just six thousandths of a second. A result that reinforces the German manufacturer’s consistency and positions it as the benchmark at the start of the season.
However, McLaren also had reasons to celebrate. Ben Dörr was the fastest in the opening free practice session in the morning, setting a lap of 1:28.567 and putting Dörr Motorsport at the top of the timesheets. "We worked hard and I spent a lot of time in the car. That paid dividends, as I did better than last year. The layout suits me. If the weather is nice, you could see the 1:28.000-minute mark cracked in Saturday's qualifying", the driver explained.
Another highlight of the day was Tom Kalender, who placed a Mercedes-AMG in fifth overall and set the fastest time in the third free practice session in the afternoon, with a lap of 1:28.841. Meanwhile, Timo Glock, Dörr’s team-mate, ended the day in sixth place, remaining close to the top positions.
All three sessions took place under ideal conditions, with sunshine and stable weather at the 4.326-kilometre Austrian circuit. However, it was during the mid-session qualifying simulation that the fastest times were recorded, hinting at an intense battle for pole position.
