Haug comments F1-drivers importance

When Mika Häkkinen left the Deutche Tourenwagen Masters at the end of the 2007-season the championship was left without an ex Formula One-driver. Ralf Schumacher seems to be the replacement for Häkkinen at Mercedes, but the contract is not signed yet.
“The tests were positive. Should we (Mercedes) and Ralf decide to cooperate – and a decision definitely has not yet been made – Ralf has to allow for two learning years at least. Just like any other driver,” said Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug.

In an interview with the Sport Informationsdienst Haug speaks about the importance of F1-drivers in DTM, plus Häkkinen and Schumacher.

“DTM has been blessed, in this area. There has been no series apart from Formula 1 that featured that many renowned and great drivers on its grid. Drivers such as Mika Häkkinen, Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Bernd Schneider, Tom Kristensen and many others.

“But it isn’t possible to have big names in a series at any time. The quality of the sport is crucial and compared with other series, the DTM quality is fine. Having big names and nameless drivers on a grid, with the so-called nobodies proving to have what it takes to defeat the renowned aces would be perfect.

“And that’s exactly what DTM provided, in the past years. Häkkinen, Alesi, Schneider or Kristensen won many races but just as often, they were beaten by the likes of Tomczyk, Spengler or Green.”

Häkkinen performed well in the DTM with Mercedes. But at the end of 2007 the decision came to retire from racing for good. Haug let the Finn take the decision on his own and did not try to convince him.

“I didn’t try to do so at all. Motor racing is a passion and it’s impossible to persuade somebody to sense passion. We respect his decision. We cooperated with him for twelve great years and as our Brand Ambassador, he will remain a member of the Mercedes family.”