DTM | 2026 Lausitzring | Free Practice 2 | Maro Engel leads Mercedes-AMG one-two

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Maro Engel set the fastest time in DTM Free Practice 2 at the Lausitzring, narrowly beating fellow Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer by just 0.002s.

With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, Engel topped the session with a 1:20.408 for Landgraf Motorsport. Auer completed a Mercedes-AMG one-two, underlining the manufacturer’s strong pace in the hot conditions.

Arjun Maini continued Ford’s impressive form by finishing third, 0.079s away from the benchmark. The HRT driver had already led the opening practice session earlier in the day.

Mercedes-AMG sets the pace in the heat

The high temperatures placed significant demands on both tyres and brakes, but Mercedes-AMG appeared well suited to the conditions. Auer had already shown encouraging long-run pace in FP1, regularly lapping below the 1:22 mark. Engel then delivered the fastest lap of the day in DTM Free Practice 2 at the Lausitzring to put Mercedes-AMG at the head of the order.

Thomas Preining finished fourth for Manthey, 0.212s behind Engel. The Porsche driver showed further potential but was unable to improve after encountering traffic during a promising lap. Ben Dörr completed the top five in the McLaren, ending the session 0.225s off the pace.

Ford and Lamborghini remain competitive

Maini’s third place in DTM Free Practice 2 confirmed HRT Ford’s speed after the manufacturer had also performed strongly during the official test at the Lausitzring.

The Ford Mustang GT3 remained competitive over a single lap, although tyre management is expected to be a major factor during the races due to the extreme temperatures and limited tyre allocation. Mirko Bortolotti was the leading Lamborghini driver in eighth, just ahead of Grasser Racing teammate Maximilian Paul in ninth.

Paul had also demonstrated strong long-run pace during FP1, producing consistent lap times below 1:22. Luca Engstler endured a more difficult session after losing the rear of his Abt Lamborghini and running into the gravel. He recovered to finish 12th, 0.363s behind Engel.

Difficult session for Glock, Ferrari and BMW

Timo Glock’s difficult weekend continued after a suspension problem ended his opening practice session early. The Dörr Motorsport driver returned for DTM Free Practice 2 but could only manage 17th at the Lausitzring, 0.611s away from the fastest time. His teammate Dörr, meanwhile, finished inside the top five.

Ferrari also struggled for pace, with Zandvoort winner Matteo Cairoli finishing 19th for Emil Frey Racing. Teammate Thierry Vermeulen ended the session in 20th. BMW faced a similarly challenging day. Kelvin van der Linde was the highest-placed BMW driver in 14th, while Marco Wittmann finished 21st.

Despite the varied performances, the field remained extremely close, with all drivers covered by just 0.753s. Attention now turns to Saturday’s opening qualifying session, where tyre preparation and brake management are expected to play a decisive role.