Illegal DTM team orders at Mercedes-AMG? Auer offers curious explanation
Was that team orders at Mercedes-AMG? When leader Lucas Auer, who is now out of title contention despite his victory in the DTM Saturday race at Hockenheim, let his fellow Mercedes driver Maro Engel past after the restart, it sparked a team-orders alert. The Austrian slowed so much in the Mercedes-Arena that Engel, who was better placed in the championship, swept past comfortably and took the ...…
Mercedes-AMG drivers Lucas Auer and Maro Engel sparked controversy during a DTM race at Hockenheim when Auer allowed Engel to pass him after the restart, prompting suspicions of team orders. The DTM regulations prohibit such agreements since 2022. Auer, who is out of title contention, claimed he had cramps and feared risking his car, stating he wanted to avoid any unnecessary risk.
Auer's explanation, while less than convincing, seems to be at odds with the team orders ban. The German governing body, DMSB, investigated the incident but found no evidence of any irregularities or instructions, leaving the possibility of a prior agreement between the two Mercedes-AMG drivers unconfirmed. Despite the controversy, the team orders move had no impact on the outcome, as a pit stop error led to Engel falling back and Auer ultimately winning the race.
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