Vitaly Petrov blames set-up problems for Moscow DTM qualifying

Ex-Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov believes set-up problems in his home round of the 2014 DTM season in Moscow prevented him from qualifying higher than last.

The Russian, along with the Mercedes DTM teams, has struggled with qualifying in the 2014 DTM season.

Since the DTM season opener at Hockenheim in May, Petrov has failed to make it out of the first stage of qualifying and has largely qualified on the back row.

Following the DTM qualifying session in Moscow, the Russian stated he struggled with the set-up of the car, but revealed he was also hampered by an electrical problem on his Mercedes C Coupe.

“Setting up the car properly is really tricky at this track,” said Petrov. “I was down on lap time after having suffered electrical problems in practice and it really showed, [so] that was a really tough qualifying.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t succeed, [and] it’s a shame, but that’s just the way it is today.

“I hope that tomorrow’s race goes better and that I can maybe pull off one or two surprises.”

The head of the Mercedes DTM programme, Wolfgang Schattling, was philosophical about the qualifying session, which saw Norisring winner Robert Wickens qualifying as the best Mercedes driver in 14th.

“Qualifying did not go as well for us as it did recently on our victory at the Norisring,” said Schattling. “However, we were not too surprised.

“We know that we have to keep on doing better at tracks like these so that we can live up to our expectations.

“Improvements in such a hotly contested series as the DTM are impossible to bring about in an instant.”