Maro Engel heads into the 2026 DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring determined to end his campaign on a high despite a difficult run of races. With the championship battle reaching its conclusion, the Mercedes-AMG driver remains confident in his abilities and his team’s potential.
During the press conference ahead of the season finale, attended by Pit Debrief, Engel discussed his preparations for the decisive weekend, the possibility of unpredictable weather conditions and his approach to overcoming recent setbacks. Although Thomas Preining holds a significant advantage in the championship standings, Engel believes there is still everything to fight for.
Engel looking forward to the DTM season finale at Hockenheim
Despite the pressure surrounding the last race weekend of the season, Engel expressed excitement about returning to the Hockenheimring for the 2026 DTM finale. Rather than focusing on nerves, the Mercedes-AMG driver emphasised his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead.
“I’m really looking forward to it. The DTM final at Hockenheim is something special. I’ve heard that the ticket pre-sale is going very well. So we’ve got a lot to look forward to. We’re raring to go for the final and can’t wait for it to get underway.”
Family life and familiar routines keep Engel grounded
With the championship reaching its conclusion, drivers face increasing pressure both on and off the track. However, Engel revealed that he has made no significant changes to his preparation ahead of the finale. Instead of isolating himself or adopting a different training routine, the German driver continues to balance his racing commitments with everyday family life.
“Yes, it’s actually quite normal, really. Taking my daughter to school in the morning. In between, training, preparation, meetings with the team. Picking my daughter up again in the evening, helping her with her homework. Just a normal day in the life of a racing driver and family man.”
Changeable weather could introduce another challenge at Hockenheim
After a largely warm and sunny DTM season, the finale at Hockenheim could bring noticeably cooler temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions. The potential change presents another factor for teams to consider as they prepare for the final races. Engel acknowledged that his team completed fewer laps than planned during the morning test session. Nevertheless, he remained satisfied with the progress made and the information gathered ahead of the weekend.
“We didn’t drive quite as much this morning as we would have liked. But we were able to work through our programme well. We ran through various set-up scenarios. We were able to collect data that’s important to us. In that respect, it was a good test. We feel well prepared for the weekend. Let’s see what the weather brings. It could be changeable. Of course, it might bring a few surprises. That could be exciting.”
With conditions potentially changing throughout the weekend, the teams will need to adapt their strategies accordingly. For Engel, however, the possibility of unexpected developments adds another element of excitement to the season finale.
Engel refuses to lose confidence despite recent setbacks
Engel has endured a challenging period in recent DTM races, with several incidents disrupting his momentum. However, the Mercedes-AMG driver refuses to let those setbacks affect his confidence heading into the final weekend. When asked about the recent incidents, Engel acknowledged the difficulties but stressed that setbacks remain an unavoidable part of motorsport. He also recognised Preining’s championship advantage while highlighting the different levels of pressure facing the two drivers.
“No question about it. Things have been tough recently. We’ve had a bit of a rough patch. But that’s how it is in motor racing. It’s all part of the game. We’re well prepared. The sun comes up again the next day. A new day, a new chance. My belief in myself, in us and in what we can achieve remains absolutely intact. With that in mind, we’re looking forward to Hockenheim. Of course, Thomas [Preining] has a big lead. So, for now, everything is in his hands. But he also has everything to lose. We’ve got nothing to lose. We’ll focus on ourselves, do our job and believe that there’ll be sunny days ahead for us again. Just as there have been so often this season.”
