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Driver Equality Led to Mercedes Domination in DTM

Like in Formula One, tactics are a big part of motor racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series. The only difference is that up until now, team orders were allowed in the German Series, while in Formula One they used coded language to tell a driver when he should let his teammate pass him.

However, some teams chose to ignore these strategies and let their drivers race each other until the end. And if Red Bull recently set that trend in F1 (in 2010 that is), Mercedes have done the exact same thing in the DTM. Needless to say, it worked out wonderfully for both teams, with Red Bull grabbing both titles in F1, while Mercedes dominated the 2010 DTM series from beginning to end.

According to Merc's motorsport boss Norbert Haug, letting the drivers race each other freely was the best decision his team could have made in 2010, three of them (Paul di Resta, Bruno Spengler and Gary Paffett) battled for the world title until the last round. In the process, the team won 9 out of 11 races.

We never drive only for one guy. This can cost you a title here and there but this is our philosophy, the same as Red Bull did it in Formula 1,” said Haug in a recent interview with Autosport.

To focus on one driver is a short-term decision. In the long term you will suffer because there is not the right motivation in your team. Not just with the drivers, but the engineers and the mechanics. They are all hugely competitive guys and we need them to stay this way.”

You can blame us for having taken points away from our own title chasing drivers at times, but this is our strategy,” he concluded.

And to end this on a positive note, team orders have just been legalized once again in Formula One, starting 2011.
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