Mercedes has made some significant changes to its driver line-up for the 2024 DTM season. While the German manufacturer has retained its full pro drivers, there have been some notable departures from the team. Two drivers, David Schumacher and Jusuf Owega, have been dropped from Mercedes’ DTM programme. Schumacher, son of former Formula 1 and DTM ace Ralf, had a disappointing run with just one top-10 finish in two seasons and faced criticism for his driving standards. Owega, on the other hand, had a fairly successful rookie campaign but there was no space for a fifth driver at Mercedes, leading to his departure.
The retained full pro drivers for Mercedes in the 2024 DTM season include nine-time race winner Lucas Auer, Nurburgring and Macau GT victor Maro Engel, former GT World Challenge champion Luca Stolz, and the newly promoted 26-year-old Arjun Maini. Engel has moved across to Winward team, filling in the spot left by Schumacher’s departure. Auer, now a stalwart at Winward, remains with the team alongside Stolz, while Maini stays at Hubert Haupt’s squad. With these changes, Mercedes will have a considerably reduced presence in the DTM compared to previous years.
Landgraf team’s exit from the DTM has had a significant impact on Mercedes’ line-up for 2024. The team, which had expanded to the DTM after winning the GT Masters title in 2022, exited ADAC’s flagship series after just one year. This departure has left only HRT and Winward teams in Mercedes’ DTM line-up, resulting in a reduced number of drivers and teams for the Stuttgart brand in the championship.
Mercedes’ Strategy for 2024
Despite the changes in the driver line-up and the reduced presence in the DTM, Mercedes remains optimistic about its performance for the 2024 season. Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, highlighted the competitiveness of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 car and the strategic course set for the upcoming season. With two Performance Teams and four Performance Drivers, Mercedes aims to make a significant impact in the championship. The team expressed gratitude towards Klaus Landgraf and his team for the past season and hinted at assigning a new task to Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf in the future.
In the 2023 season, Luca Stolz emerged as Mercedes’ highest-placed driver, finishing sixth in the standings with a victory at the Sachsenring circuit. Stolz’s performance showcased the potential of Mercedes’ drivers in the DTM and laid the foundation for the team’s strategy going forward. As Mercedes prepares for the 2024 season with a revised line-up and a focused approach, the team aims to build on Stolz’s success and make a strong statement in the championship.
Mercedes’ driver line-up for the 2024 DTM season reflects the team’s commitment to excellence and competitive spirit. Despite the changes and challenges faced, Mercedes remains determined to succeed in the championship and showcase the performance of its drivers on the track. The strategic decisions made for the upcoming season signify a new chapter for Mercedes in the DTM, and the team is poised to make a mark with its two Performance Teams and four Performance Drivers.
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