Maximilian Götz won the title in the first season under GT3 regulations of the DTM. Success that was punctuated by some controversy over the resolution of the championship, but that defines the talent of the official Mercedes-AMG driver. However, Götz’s title defense is not going as expected and Maximilian finds himself lost in the standings. In fact, the #1 has not yet managed to get on the podium so far this season with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with which he competes with Winward Racing.
It is no secret that the DTM has raised its level of competition. Regarding 2021, the series not only has more manufacturers represented, but stronger teams and an enviable roster of drivers, many of them official pilots of each brand. All in all, these ingredients that serve to raise the level have to be mixed on the track, something that has undoubtedly also happened. In fact, Maximilian Götz has ensured that the high level of the championship requires being at the exact point at all times to even score.
The incorporation of Lamborghini and Porschethe return of René Rast or the increase from 20 to 29 cars means more competition with which Maximilian Götz he is not knowing how to deal as expected: «The start of the season has not been easy at all. I think that, by way of balance sheet, this year’s DTM has changed substantially. The championship is much more challenging and it’s even harder to be in the right spot to be competitive all the time».
Maximilian Götz’s own results are the best example of his words. The German has not been on the podium so far this season, nor has he achieved any pole position. In fact, his best result was the fifth place he added in the second race held in Portimao and since then he has scored points in four races – tenth, ninth, sixth and sixth – and has not finished in the top ten in another two motos. For now, Götz has 29 points and is sixteenth in the general classification.
Influencing this idea, the 2021 champion adds: «We have seen how many different riders are on the podiumso there isn’t just one or a couple who always win or finish in the top three. There are greater ups and downs because equality and the level of competition is even greater. You have to be in the sweet spot longer than last year if you want to shine. I still have the potential to get a lot of points and achieve great results, there are tracks that I like and the Mercedes works well. Hopefully we can make a change to the season.”
Photos: DTM