DTM | 2026 Red Bull Ring | Free Practice 3 | Mercedes dominant again with Kalender on top

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After two short free practice sessions, the 2026 DTM grid heads into Free Practice 3 at the Red Bull Ring as the final chance to fine tune everything before race action begins on Saturday. Ben Dörr and Lucas Auer set the fastest laps respectfully in FP1 and FP2 earlier today, putting both McLaren and Mercedes on the top as both teams dominated the weekend in Austria so far. With this session being the longest out of all three of them as the timer runs for 45 minutes.

Mercedes and Kalender on top

Marco Mapelli was the first driver to be out on track in Austria, as Thomas Preinings, Manthey Porsche, seemed to create a smoke cloud as he left the pit lane. Meanwhile, Tom Kalender set the first fastest lap around the Red Bull Ring in Free Practice 3 at the first race week of the DTM 2026 season. With the Mercedes and McLaren entries showing their speed again as five of the six entries make out the top six. Only with Matteo Cairoli in 5th breaking them apart.

After 10 minutes of Free Practice 3, Kalender still topped the timesheets, setting one fastest lap after another, while Race Control investigated Preining after he had to change his tyres following the smoke show in the pit lane. And While Mercedes and McLaren are still the top of the sheet, Lamborghini and Aston Martin seemed to have problems with the cars, as they couldn’t really climb past P10.

Short Red Flag as Thiim lost his suspension

With around 30 minutes left on the clock, parts of the #007 Aston Martin suspension came loose from Nicki Thiim’s car and rolled across the pit exit, forcing Race Control to red flag the session. Bringing all cars back into the pits, with the Comtoyou Racing team trying to fix the car for the rest of the session.

While Marshals removed the lost parts, the track in Austria went green again, leaving 26 minutes on the clock for Free Practice 3 at the first race weekend of the 2026 DTM season. With Lap times being deleted a lot as the drivers especially went over the line in turn 1 and 2, a problem that could occur a lot through the whole practice session.

Lamborghini’s with pace problems as Kalender hold the front

While most cars returned to the track, Grasser Racing Team (GRT) took more time in the garage as both Mirko Bortolotti and Maximilian Paul had their Temerario’s pushed back for further work. As Kalender was still leading with the fastest lap, being only 17 years old, Thiim got back out already showing Comtoyou Racing’s fast work. Meanwhile, the two GRT Lamborghini’s went back out on track, though Bortolotti made fast work after one lap and went back into the pit lane.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Kalender was still holding the fastest lap, as home heros Auer and Preining were sitting in P4 and P6. Though the Lamborghini’s from GRT and ABT seemed to lack some pace, Luca Engstler set his #130 ABT Lamborghini into the top 10. As BMW seemed to struggle with Marco Wittmann and Kelvin Van der Linde sitting in P15 and P16 on a track that is known to suit the BMWs normally. Though, this could be them testing different set-ups ahead of the sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

Problems with Ford and Ferrari, with Kalender on top

With the last 10 minutes left on the clock, the cars that were in the box for most of Free Practice 3 of the first DTM race weekend in the 2026, went back out to try and gain as much data as possible. Apart from Thierry Vermeulen, all cars were back on track, though it seemed he was ready to go out again getting some more laps on his Ferrari. Though it was possible that he had a problem to start his car as he stayed in the garage for now.

Meanwhile, with around 5 minutes left on the Finn Wiebelhaus seemed to have an issue with his Ford Mustang as he complained on the radio. As Bortolotti lost his grip and went into the track, bringing some dust on track for the last 2 minutes of Free Practice 3. With the Race Control having a Full Course Yellow notification, though only shortly, probably to test the systems.

Kalender stayed on top for Free Practice 3 keeping his fastest lap of the session as the chequered flag was waved.