In the coming season, Mercedes-Benz will rely on three racing teams in DTM: in addition to the established squads; HWA AG and of Mücke Motorsport, French team ‘ART Grand Prix’ will make it’s début in the popular international touring-car series to also represent the Mercedes-Benz colours as the Mercedes ART squad. Having established teams in GP2 and Formula 3, the French marque who powered the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Jamie Green and Paul di Resta to title success will field two new drivers. Who they are is anyones guess, but the recent pre season test gives some indicators.
Mercedes-Benz offered five drivers the chance of testing at Jerez. The FIA Formula 3 European Championship was represented by champion Esteban Ocon and Felix Rosenqvist as well as Austria’s Lucas Auer. For all three, the DTM tests were the reward for their extraordinary achievements in the 2014 season. In addition, Maximilian Götz got the opportunity to switch from the endurance racer to the DTM touring-car. At the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Götz won this year’s Blancpain Sprint Series title. Furthermore, Formula 1 test driver Charles Pic also tested for Mercedes-Benz.
However, with only two seats up for grabs the only realistic options appear to be Charles Pic and possibly Felix Rosenqvist. Currently test and reserve driver for the Lotus F1 team and Andretti Formula e driver, sometimes, Pic may well be looking to establish himself in a more mainstream and competitive series. Although Formula e has proved successful, he has only raced in one of the first four rounds and with his F1 hopes seemingly gone, switching to DTM might well prove fruitful for the young Frenchman. What’s more, with his french ties to sponsors, ART may well be the perfect home for him.
Rosenqvist finished fourth in this years F3 championship and has a long relationship with Mercedes who have powered his cars for the last three years. The 23 year old, beaten by Ocon and Verstappen may well want to climb the single cockpit series ladder and look at the likes of GP2/3 and World Series but with opportunities rare and money tight, DTM might well be his next destination, especially as age is not on his side when looking at the likes of Verstappen and Ocon who are 17 and 18 respectively.
However, nothing has been confirmed and with so many talent drivers out there in various different series, Mercedes are certainly not short of talent to choose from.
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