Did you guys read the letter that Mercedes-Benz wrote to DTM?
Dear Sirs,
Mercedes-Benz is represented at the factory in the DTM since 1988 and has from the very beginning, in agreement with all manufacturers and the DMSB for a fair and clearly regulated motor sport. This sport is always on top. We take part in the DTM very seriously, putting not only material resources, but also passion for it.
More disillusioning were some decisions of the racing line at the last DTM race at Spielberg for us. Until the pit stops a great race was commanded by the driver of the lead group - characterized by courageous and fair duels, as we and the fans want to see it in the DTM. The subsequent decision of the Race Direction to impose a drive-through penalty for "Unsafe Release" against Robert Wickens, not only Robert Wickens and his team to the rewards of their hard work, but all the local fans and the TV sets to a great were brought race.
We are still convinced that the decision was content wrong - even alone against the background of the precise meaning of the term "Unsafe Release": Robert Wickens was "left" after his pit stop on lap 22 from his station, behind him are in accordance with relevant dividend driver was video and photo documentation at this time, not even in the Fast Lane the pit lane. Wickens was certainly not optimal from his pitstop station, but this was unpredictable for the pit crew and can therefore be considered in any case as Unsafe release.
It is in the nature of the DTM that competition takes place in the pit lane. In this context, should, in principle, regardless of whether position battle on the track or pit lane, the same commandments of fairness apply: participants must respect each other and have enough in the fight for positions "survival space". Under Article 23.9 Sporting Regulations are all drivers who are in the pit lane, committed to do everything possible to avoid collisions in the pit lane. In our opinion, this aspect was not taken into account in decision making. The driver, who was behind Robert Wickens, could allow safe insertion into the Fast Lane, especially since both vehicles are previously consecutively retracted tightly in the pitlane.
In the past, a directive was lived beyond that states that the driver who "has the edge" at the level of the next pit stop station direction must give way. This fact argues against a punishment of R. Wickens.
Ultimately, no action was therefore by definition "Unsafe Release". This we had already informed during the investigation of the stewards so. But unfortunately there was a drive-through penalty, but we have committed in the knowledge of the discussion with the race director, as well as our opinion no mistake, had to cancel. We drove quite clearly for the win - this possibility was taken from us.
Parent inconsistency is striking in the decisions of the stewards: the Causa Pascal Wehrleins we considered a much clearer situation of an "Unsafe release" - he was however acquitted during the race and then still punished after the race. At this point the question of the consistency of the decision itself, but also the resulting penalty was made. A transfer back three grid positions at the next race does not seem proportionate to a lost victory. There were also in the race a more comparable situation between D. Juncadella and Audi drivers. This was not even investigated and therefore not punished - either during or after the race.
Regardless of the case now present, we believe that the DTM in a more consistent and in particular the accountability approach to potential offenses and their punishments should be applied. When in doubt, decisions must be made in the spirit of the sport and exciting Racings - otherwise we look at the credibility of the race series and their attractiveness at risk as most popular international touring car series in the medium term. The current discussions on various social media platforms show exactly the displeasure of the fans, which we enclose an extract of this letter in the system. "
Toto Wolff und Team
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
