Marco Wittmann furious with Audi’s tactics at the Red Bull Ring
Reigning champion Marco Wittmann had harsh words for his Audi rivals after today’s race at the Red Bull Ring, where the BMW driver felt he had been deliberately slowed down, as well as taken off the track.
Wittmann started from third on the grid, but lost out to Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller on the second lap. The BMW driver changed tyres three laps later, and managed to stay ahead of championship leader Mattias Ekström’s Audi.
The trouble for the champion started when Audi drivers Rockenfeller and Nico Müller pitted. He managed to stay ahead but, a few laps later, was overtaken by Müller, who then set lap times over a second slower than the leaders, in an apparent attempt to help a struggling Ekström to close the gap to Wittmann.
BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt said: “I cannot understand why the opposition is still playing such unnecessary tactical games, although they clearly are ahead in terms of performance.”
The biggest trouble for Wittmann came at the restart after the safety car period, when Wittmann lost positions to Rockenfeller and Ekström, who then forced the BMW off the track. Ekström was ordered by the race officials to give the position back, but was able to get back ahead of the German soon after.
“I am disappointed and angry,” said Wittmann. “Following the changes to the weight situation, Audi now clearly has the car with the best race pace in the field.
“If you still feel it necessary to block the opposition, then that is not on. I am the kind of racing driver who wants to see hard but fair racing. Unfortunately, that was not the case today,” he concluded.
Stefan Reinhold, team principal at Wittmann’s team, Team RMG, said: “Marco was forced off the track, for which there was a penalty. However, once your tyres are dirty, you have a clear disadvantage in terms of performance, which you cannot make up for.”
Wittmann is now down to fifth in the championship table, 38 points behind Ekström, and is yet to score a victory this season.
