DTM leader Auer laments “shitty race” after Wittmann collision

After ninth place in Sunday’s DTM race at the Lausitzring, Lucas Auer’s lead in the overall standings has shrunk to six points. And from the Landgraf Mercedes driver’s point of view, two-time champion Marco Wittmann is clearly to blame.

“That was a write-off; a shitty race,” the Austrian grumbled to ran.de. “I was pushed off, the car was badly damaged – and that’s it! Wittmann pushed me off, but this is motorsport and we’ll cross paths again.”

Saturday’s winner Auer was alluding to the incident on the second lap when, after a good start from fourth, he had already passed second-placed Wittmann before contact occurred in the fast Turn 7, sending Auer flying into the gravel.

Suspension and floor damage for Auer’s Mercedes

After the contact, which dropped the Landgraf Mercedes driver down to seventh place, team boss Nico Heinz said Auer had been hamstrung because “the suspension was damaged and the floor was affected”.

“I got a lot of oversteer and it was very difficult to drive,” said Auer. “The steering wheel wasn’t exactly straight anymore. I’m just annoyed because I could have done well again today.

“I would usually just make do with the ninth place, but this has a bitter aftertaste.”

Why Wittmann wasn’t penalised

Schubert BMW driver Wittmann, who finished eighth due to an ABS problem, viewed the incident somewhat differently: “We both went in, and he was already sideways. In other words, he was already off-line. Then there was a little contact.

“It was a tough battle, but in the end there was no action from the stewards,” he said, unwilling to accept the blame.

The stewards agreed with Wittmann. After a hearing with both drivers, they judged the situation to be a ‘racing incident’ in the chaotic turmoil of the opening phase.

The onboard camera of Wittmann’s team-mate Rene Rast shows that Wittmann slightly loses control of his car, makes a small correction and slides into Auer’s Mercedes. Wittmann therefore wanted to avoid contact and could not be accused of deliberately causing the accident.

Watch: 2025 DTM – Round 2 – Lausitzring: Race 2 highlights