"Simply too many mistakes": Will Engel's 15-second penalty cost him the DTM title?
Will the bitter penalty for Maro Engel after the collision with Kelvin van der Linde cost him the DTM title? The Winward Mercedes driver, who had started from pole position at the DTM race at Sachsenring on Sunday, was running sixth at the restart a few laps from the end, while DTM leader Thomas Preining was second. Under braking for the first corner, he touched the rear of Kelvin van der ...…
Maro Engel's 15-second penalty during a DTM race at Sachsenring may have cost him the championship title. The Mercedes driver, starting from pole, was running sixth at the restart when he collided with Kelvin van der Linde's BMW, pushing him into the gravel trap and costing him 17th place. Engel admitted the incident went wrong, acknowledging multiple mistakes in strategy, track execution, and communication with his team.
The penalty corresponds to 15 seconds, equivalent to three five-second laps, and was deemed necessary due to Engel's late braking and the resulting impact on van der Linde's race. The decision to start on used slick tyres may have put Engel in a vulnerable position, contributing to the overall poor performance.
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