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Frentzen to leave DTM as well?

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A very disapointed Heinz-Harald Frentzen was very dissatisfied with his team after today’s race at the Hockenheimring. The wrangle between him and the Audi team looks to be braking the two parties up.

Whereas Frentzen said previous to the race he would talk to Audi about their future together, after the race the German was less diplomatic. “I’m very disapointed now. Not only because of what happened with Mattias, with the way the race was going for me as well”, he said.

“The timing of the pitstops were not good at all, where my teammates seemed to be favoured, and after that being pushed out of the race by a teammate”, Frentzen continued. “The race today shows what my position in the team is and how popular I am with my teammates. I never really felt welcome in this team. I can’t say now whether or not I will be in DTM next year, but I can say that i’m very dissapointed right now.”

If Frentzen is to leave DTM, it would mean another former F1-star would leave the series. Jean Alesi announced his retirement last thursday and was thanked by his colleague drivers before the race. Frentzens departure would leave Mika Häkkinen as only former Formula 1-star in the series. Another small setback for the series, which has always propagated the high amount of F1-drivers.

Audi Motorsport boss Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich replied:

“I can understand that Heinz-Harald Frentzen is deeply disappointed after the race at Hockenheim. He started from the pole position and was hoping to claim his first victory in the DTM. But the race did not go for him as expected. He was overtaken by Bruno Spengler, gave away valuable time when driving off from his second pit stop and was spun by a team-mate shortly before crossing the finish line.

It is understandable that he is less than delighted about this. Making mutual accusations in public, such as those voiced by Heinz-Harald on television, are not Audi’s style. We assume that Heinz-Harald made his comments as an initial response to the disappointment he suffered and will see things differently with a certain detachment. Everyone at Audi Sport and Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline has been fully committed to enabling Heinz-Harald to achieve good results.

He had the same material as his team-mates and the full support of the entire Audi squad in a season that was difficult for all of us. We are now going to take a quick decision as to whether or not there will be a joint future for Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Audi. I’m disappointed by him.”