Arjun Maini believes a maiden DTM victory for the Ford Mustang remains achievable this season after HRT Ford Racing made significant progress with the car during its second campaign in the 2026 championship.
Maini enters the closing stages of 2026 sixth in the Drivers’ Championship and, provisionally, level on points with Matteo Cairoli after already securing his first podium with the Mustang.
Speaking during a media event attended by Pit Debrief ahead of the Nürburgring round, the Indian driver highlighted the Mustang’s Evo updates as an important factor in that improvement. However, he believes the progress comes from an expanded performance window rather than one transformative change, leaving him increasingly optimistic about what Ford can achieve over the remaining rounds.
Maini pleased with Ford’s 2026 DTM progress after difficult 2025
HRT endured a challenging first DTM campaign with the Mustang before introducing its updated package for 2026.
Although Maini expected the changes to improve the car, the team still encountered difficulties during the opening stages of the season. Nevertheless, its ability to produce results at circuits where it expected to struggle has strengthened Maini’s confidence.
“It’s been a pretty good season for us, especially after last year being so difficult. We were always very optimistic with the updates from the Evo package, but early on we still had some struggles.”
Oschersleben provided one of the clearest examples of that development. Maini arrived with modest expectations but left with two sixth-place finishes, demonstrating how much the Mustang’s competitiveness has improved across different circuit types.
“So overall, I think, to be honest, I’m very happy where we are. Especially getting good results in tracks like Oschersleben, where before the weekend we said we don’t have a chance to do anything this weekend, so we would have been happy with a P12 or a P13 to get some points. So definitely we’ve come a long way, and it seems like we are getting stronger. So overall, I’m very happy with where we are, and hopefully there is more to come.”
Evo package gives HRT greater set-up freedom
Maini does not attribute Ford’s progress to one dramatic change. Instead, he believes several smaller developments have given HRT more flexibility when adapting the Mustang to different circuits.
The updated package has addressed some aerodynamic weaknesses while revised geometry has increased the team’s range of set-up options.
“I think it’s not been like a night and day change. Let’s say the main characteristics of the car has changed, but we have sort of clawed out a little bit of the weakness, a little bit of front aero, and opened up a little bit more room for setup with the updates in the geometry.”
Improved braking performance has also contributed to the Mustang’s wider operating window.
“And of course, we have better brakes this year. So it’s brought us a little bit more into the window where you can play around a little bit more with setup, and I think that’s opened up quite a few variables for all the tracks.”
Those changes have allowed HRT to experiment more freely rather than repeatedly facing compromises.
Mustang no longer leaves Maini feeling ‘stuck’
The expanded set-up window represents one of the most important differences between Ford’s first and second DTM seasons. In 2025, Maini often found that improving one characteristic created another compromise elsewhere.
The revised Mustang gives HRT greater freedom to search for performance without facing the same limitations.
“Whereas last year, we always felt like we were always a little bit stuck because it was always give and take with whatever we tried. So this year, it’s sort of opened that window up for us. We have a little bit of a bigger window of performance with the car, and that is for sure helping us a little bit everywhere.”
That broader competitiveness has helped Maini establish himself inside the championship’s leading group. More importantly, it has given Ford opportunities at circuits where the team previously expected to struggle.
That unpredictability has encouraged Maini to avoid ruling out an even bigger breakthrough before the season ends.
Maini refuses to rule out maiden Mustang victory in 2026 DTM
Ford has already demonstrated stronger qualifying and race performance this season, with both Maini and teammate Finn Wiebelhaus producing front-running results. However, the Mustang still awaits its first DTM victory.
Maini believes the unpredictable nature of the championship means that breakthrough could arrive before the campaign concludes.
“I think anything is possible, to be honest. [A victory] would be great. I mean, on paper, actually, Red Bull Ring and Norisring should have been our strongest tracks of the calendar.”
Yet previous expectations have not always reflected the Mustang’s eventual performance.
“But if you had told me before the weekend at Oschesleben if you would have two sixth places in Oschesleben, I would have definitely laughed at you. So I think everything is on the car. The car is definitely in a better window. So we’ll have to wait and see. But it’s DTM and, yeah, anything can be possible.”
For Maini, that uncertainty works in Ford’s favour as HRT continues to understand the improved car.
Nürburgring demands precision in crucial first sector
The Nürburgring’s shorter DTM configuration presents another distinct challenge for Maini and the Mustang. Maini identifies the opening sector as particularly important because drivers can gain or lose significant lap time through its technical sequence.
The final chicane will also require careful management, particularly depending on how officials position the bollards around the kerbs.
“Yeah, I mean, Sector 1 is where most of your lap times are usually gained, and of course the last chicane, with the curbs how they are, is tricky. It will be interesting to see how the bollards will be placed for the weekend because I think some cars can take both the sausages, some not. So this will also play a big role because you can lose, again, a lot of lap time there.”
However, circuit characteristics may not provide the only variable. The Nürburgring’s famously unpredictable weather could also reshape the competitive order.
Changing weather could play to Ford’s strengths in 2026 DTM
Maini believes extreme wet conditions can suit the Mustang because the car generates tyre temperature effectively. That characteristic can provide an advantage when other cars struggle to bring their tyres into the correct operating window.
“I mean, for us, I think it has actually not had so much rain, and it’s been quite mixed. I think for us, we are strong when it is very, very wet because we are quite good at putting temperature in our tyres when others could be struggling to switch them on. But if the track is drying out, that becomes a little bit more of a difficult situation for us.”
However, transitional conditions create a more complicated picture. Temperature, rainfall intensity and tyre choice can all change where the Mustang holds an advantage.
“So again, it depends on how much rain, the temperature as well. So there’s a lot of many factors that would affect the performance, I think, for us.”
Therefore, HRT’s prospects could change rapidly depending on how conditions develop during the weekend.
Early tyre performance creates opportunity and compromise
The Mustang’s ability to generate tyre temperature also creates an important trade-off during races. Maini believes Ford can often switch its tyres on quickly, giving the car strong performance during the opening phase of a stint.
However, that strength can become a weakness later as tyre performance begins to fall away.
“Of course, the car is a little bit harder on the tyres, so that you have to adjust and you have to be a little bit smoother with how you attack in the races. And we’ve seen as the race goes on, the latest is we are very strong in the beginning, but we start to struggle during the middle and the end of the races.”
Maini therefore has to manage his aggression carefully throughout longer runs. At the same time, quick tyre warm-up can offer strategic opportunities when conditions change.
“But on the other hand, that’s also a strength to switch on the tyres and be that way in the race, so it’s a little bit give and take.”
Mercedes experience eased Maini’s Ford transition
Despite changing manufacturers, Maini did not need to completely reinvent his driving style when he moved from Mercedes-AMG machinery to the Mustang.
Both cars use front-engine layouts, giving them some broadly similar characteristics from the driver’s perspective.
“Yeah, so, I mean, the basic behaviours, characteristics of the car are quite similar, I would say, in terms of the driving style required, with both having the front engine. So in that point, it wasn’t a big adaptation. For me, it was not like I was going from a slightly understeering car to a car where you have to drive completely on the edge.”
However, smaller differences still required adjustment.
Maini highlighted Mercedes-AMG’s strength in medium and high-speed aerodynamic performance, while the physical dimensions of the two cars also create different sensations. Nevertheless, he believes the fundamental qualifying approach remains largely similar.
Maini sees further potential in closing 2026 DTM rounds
Maini’s second season with Ford has already produced a significant improvement over a difficult debut campaign. The Evo package has expanded the Mustang’s operating window, better brakes have increased set-up freedom and HRT has produced competitive results at circuits where Maini previously expected to struggle.
At the same time, the car still presents challenges through tyre management and changing conditions.
Yet those characteristics can also create opportunities, particularly when rapid tyre warm-up becomes an advantage.
For Maini, the most encouraging sign lies in the Mustang’s growing versatility. HRT no longer needs to rely solely on circuits that appear favourable on paper. Instead, its performances at venues such as Oschersleben have shown that the car can exceed expectations.
With Maini firmly inside the championship’s leading group and Ford continuing to chase its first DTM victory, the Indian driver believes the remaining rounds can still deliver another major step forward.
