A return to familiar surroundings marks the next step in the career of Maximilian Paul as he prepares for the 2026 DTM season with Grasser Racing Team, alongside 2024 champion, Mirko Bortolotti.
After continuing to build his profile within the Lamborghini ecosystem, including closer ties to Lamborghini Squadra Corse and involvement in the development of the Temerario GT3, Paul now returns to one of the manufacturer’s most competitive teams in DTM.
The move places him in an environment that has already demonstrated its ability to deliver results at the highest level.
A return to a proven contender
Grasser Racing Team has established itself as Lamborghini’s leading force in DTM in recent seasons, combining experience, operational efficiency and a clear understanding of the championship’s demands.
That stability offers Paul not only familiarity, but also a platform for progression. Having previously worked within the wider Lamborghini structure, he arrives with a deeper understanding of both the car and the expectations that come with it.
At the same time, the team continues to evolve. With strong technical foundations and consistent investment, GRT enters the 2026 season aiming to build on its position at the front of the field.
A key partnership with Bortolotti
A central element of Paul’s 2026 campaign will be his partnership with former DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti.
The move marks a clear contrast to his 2025 season, where Paul competed as the sole DTM entry for his family-run Paul Motorsport team. While that experience allowed him to take on significant responsibility and develop independently, it also meant operating without the direct internal benchmark that comes with a multi-car line-up.
Now, at Grasser Racing Team, Paul finds himself alongside one of the most experienced and disciplined drivers in the championship, in an environment built around shared data, feedback and collaboration.
Having worked together in simulator sessions and remained in close contact throughout their careers, the two drivers already share a level of understanding that could prove valuable over the course of the season.
That continuity extends beyond DTM, with Paul and Bortolotti also set to share a programme in GT World Challenge, further strengthening their working relationship.
When asked about his new teammate, Paul highlighted the influence Bortolotti has had on his career.
Understanding what sets GRT apart
While Lamborghini continues to field multiple teams in DTM, GRT has consistently stood out as the benchmark operation within the brand.
Speaking exclusively to Pit Debrief, he was asked what sets the team apart internally, particularly compared to other Lamborghini outfits on the grid, Paul pointed to the leadership, structure and efficiency behind the operation.
“So the difference between Grasser and the others is, I wouldn’t say specifically his general experience, but the reason is that he [Gottfried Grasser] really puts himself into the technology day and night, puts himself into the whole organisation, really takes care of everything, and has been doing so for, I would almost say, decades. He’s been working with Lamborghini for, I think, twelve or thirteen years now, if I am not mistaken.”
“He knows the structures there, he knows how to deal with people. And this short communication channel and this short path for ideas, for implementing ideas, actually always puts him one step ahead of the others. Now, with the line-up, with the partners he has and the partners we have, we are of course also in a good financial position to implement ideas quickly.”
“And he’s had that for the last two years. We saw that last year, he was extremely good. And I think that this year, even though the new car will certainly be a challenge, he is definitely one of the teams that will quickly know what they have to do.”
Learning alongside a champion
When asked about his new teammate, Paul highlighted the influence Mirko Bortolotti has had on his career.
“I would say, quite a bit. When I was racing karts, I always looked up to Mirko [Bortolotti] a little bit. I liked his discipline and his perfectionism.”
“And now, throughout my career, I’ve always been on good terms with him, from exchanging ideas to becoming friends. We drive the simulator together a lot, or have been driving the simulator together repeatedly over the last few years. And, of course, we were always a bit excited about the possibility of driving together at some point.”
“And now that we have this opportunity, without really pushing for it, to have a programme together, not only in the DTM but also in the GT World Challenge, where we share the car, is obviously really cool. I think I can learn a lot from him and gain a lot of experience from him. And that, I think, is the goal for me.”
“And that we achieve success together as a team over the season and benefit from each other.”
A season built on opportunity
As the 2026 season approaches, Paul finds himself in a position defined by both opportunity and expectation.
With a proven team, a championship-winning teammate and a deeper integration within Lamborghini’s factory structure, the foundations are firmly in place.
The next step lies in execution. In a championship where margins remain tight, the ability to translate preparation into results will be decisive.
For Paul, however, the direction is clear. His return to Grasser Racing Team is not simply a continuation, but a step forward in a career that continues to gather momentum.
