The 2026 DTM season began in dramatic fashion at the Red Bull Ring, as a disrupted build-up, evolving conditions and strategic complexity combined to produce an unpredictable opening round. Across qualifying and two action-packed races, teams and drivers faced constant challenges, while the early championship picture already began to take shape.
A chaotic yet defining 2026 opening DTM weekend at the Red Bull Ring
Preparation for the season opener proved far from ideal. Interrupted practice sessions and limited data on the new tyre left teams searching for answers heading into Qualifying 1. Nevertheless, Mercedes-AMG quickly established itself as the benchmark, while rivals struggled for consistency. Lamborghini, in particular, endured a difficult introduction for its new Temerario GT3, and Aston Martin required late Balance of Performance adjustments to remain competitive.
Qualifying 1 confirmed a tight battle between Mercedes and Porsche. Maro Engel secured pole position with a decisive final lap, while Thomas Preining and Ben Dörr remained close behind. However, Race 1 quickly descended into chaos. Early incidents triggered a safety car, while track limits warnings and penalties disrupted the flow of the race. Preining ultimately delivered a controlled victory at home, finishing ahead of Lucas Auer and Engel.
Race 2 told a different story. After Kelvin van der Linde claimed pole in Qualifying 2, strategy and tyre management once again shaped the outcome. Engel executed a clinical drive, using pit strategy to take control and secure victory. Marco Wittmann and Auer completed the podium, while several drivers, including van der Linde, lost ground during crucial pit phases.
Overall, the weekend highlighted both the competitiveness of the field and the importance of execution under pressure.
Drivers’ Standings take early shape with Engel on top
After two contrasting races, Engel emerged as the early championship leader with 44 points. His consistency, combined with a victory and podium, gave him a strong advantage over Auer, who sits second with 37 points following two solid performances.
Wittmann holds third with 31 points after a strong recovery drive in Race 2, while Preining’s home victory places him fourth on 29 points despite a more difficult second race. Behind them, Nicki Thiim rounds out the top five with 17 points, benefiting from consistent midfield progress.
Further down the order, the standings remain tightly packed. Finn Wiebelhaus and Arjun Maini lead Ford’s charge, while Jules Gounon, Tom Kalender and Kelvin van der Linde all sit close together on 13 points. Notably, van der Linde’s missed opportunity in Race 2 prevented him from challenging for the championship lead.
At the lower end, several drivers remain scoreless after a challenging opening weekend, underlining how costly early setbacks can be in such a competitive field.
2026 DTM Drivers’ Standings after Round 1 at Red Bull Ring
- Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol) – 44
- Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf) – 37
- Marco Wittmann (Schubert Motorsport) – 31
- Thomas Preining (Manthey) – 29
- Nicki Thiim (Comtoyou Racing) – 17
- Finn Wiebelhaus (HRT Ford Racing) – 15
- Arjun Maini (HRT Ford Racing) – 14
- Jules Gounon (Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER) – 13
- Tom Kalender (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf) – 13
- Kelvin van der Linde (Schubert Motorsport) – 13
- Timo Glock (Doerr Motorsport) – 11
- Ben Dörr (Doerr Motorsport) – 11
- Ricardo Feller (Manthey) – 11
- Matteo Cairoli (Emil Frey Racing) – 10
- Thierry Vermeulen (Emil Frey Racing) – 10
- Bastian Buus (Land-Motorsport) – 8
- Mirko Bortolotti (TGI Team by GRT) – 4
- Luca Engstler (Red Bull Team Abt) – 1
- Maximilian Paul (TGI Team by GRT) – 0
- Marco Mapelli (Red Bull Team Abt) – 0
- Nicolas Baert (Comtoyou Racing) – 0
Teams’ battle intensifies early
In the Teams’ Championship, Landgraf Motorsport leads with 49 points, driven by Auer’s consistency and Kalender’s contributions. Winward Racing follows closely with 41 points, while Manthey sits third on 39 after Preining’s victory.
Schubert Motorsport holds fourth with 31 points, largely thanks to Wittmann’s strong Race 2 result. Meanwhile, HRT Ford Racing’s solid double-driver performance places it fifth with 24 points, highlighting the effectiveness of recent Balance of Performance changes.
Further down, Dörr Motorsport, Emil Frey Racing and Comtoyou Racing remain tightly grouped, reflecting the competitive midfield. Lamborghini-backed entries continue to struggle, with both GRT and ABT Sportsline lacking the pace to challenge higher positions.
2026 DTM Teams’ Standings after Round 1 at the Red Bull Ring
- Landgraf Motorsport – 49
- Winward Racing – 41
- Manthey – 39
- Schubert Motorsport – 31
- HRT Ford Racing – 24
- Dörr Motorsport – 21
- Emil Frey Racing – 20
- Comtoyou Racing – 19
- Land Motorsport – 10
- GRT Grasser-Racing-Team – 10
- ABT Sportsline – 6
Manufacturers’ fight led by Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG leads the manufacturers’ standings with 61 points after a dominant and consistent weekend. Porsche follows with 42 points, boosted by Preining’s Race 1 victory, while BMW sits third with 33 points despite an inconsistent showing.
Ford’s improved pace lifts it to fourth with 27 points, ahead of McLaren, Aston Martin and Ferrari, all of which remain closely matched. Lamborghini trails the field with 16 points, reflecting a challenging debut for its new car.
2026 DTM Manufacturers’ Standings after Round 1 at the Red Bull Ring
- Mercedes-AMG – 61
- Porsche – 42
- BMW – 33
- Ford – 27
- McLaren – 24
- Aston Martin – 23
- Ferrari – 23
- Lamborghini – 16
A dramatic DTM opening weekend at the Red Bull Ring
The opening round of the 2026 DTM season at the Red Bull Ring delivered unpredictability, strategic intrigue and clear early trends. Engel and Mercedes-AMG leave Austria with momentum, while rivals must respond quickly. With tight margins across all championships, the season promises sustained competition as teams refine performance and consistency in the rounds ahead.
