Haug speaks clearly about the future of the DTM: Verstappen swap and reverse grid!

(Motorsport-Total.com) - Hardly anyone knows the DTM better than Norbert Haug. Even as Mercedes's head of motorsport, the Swabian never missed a DTM race from 1990 to 2013, but he has been an integral part of the paddock ever since. The 72-year-old, who has saved the DTM several times and now works as a management consultant, remains passionate about the storied series, even if that sometimes requires strong language.

He proves this in a detailed interview with Motorsport-Total.com , in which Haug does not shy away from political statements and makes it clear why the automobile and sustainability are not a contradiction for him.

He also explains why the "more than silly" treatment of Formula 1 star Max Verstappen on the Nürburgring Nordschleife could be an opportunity for the DTM, why he is not writing off Abt and Timo Glock, and how he would completely turn the DTM format on its head despite the ADAC taking the right steps.

Question: "Mr. Haug, we're halfway through the 2025 DTM season. What's your personal assessment so far?" Norbert Haug: "I can certainly see several positive aspects in the further development of this racing series with its sonorous three letters and unique history."

"The ADAC deserves thanks for taking on this task in times when braking is increasingly taking over from accelerating. The goal is to steer the DTM, after years of trials and tribulations, in a promising, contemporary direction. Rising viewer numbers both on-site and on devices around the world are the reward for this. Much has already been achieved, and much remains to be done."

Question: "Lucas Auer leads the championship , but former champions Thomas Preining and Rene Rast, as well as the strong Grasser rookie Jordan Pepper and the extremely consistent Maro Engel, are hot on his heels. Who is your tip for the title?" Haug: "I'd have to be mad if I were to make a serious prediction for the championship. But I do have one wish: a decision in the final race, in the final corner. For those who think that only happens in dreams, I'd like to remind them of the final 500 meters of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship."

Question: "Abt is struggling after the brand switch from Audi to Lamborghini, despite having the reigning champion, Mirko Bortolotti, on board. Did you expect it would take time to get the Lambo up and running?" Haug: "You're indeed making a valid observation. But it's the halfway point of the season, and in the second half of the season, a capable team can score more than twice as many points as so far. And Abt has that team. The totals are only added up at the end; it's no different in the DTM than in real life."

Question: "Timo Glock is also having a difficult start in his DTM comeback after three years; there have been constant discussions about his car . How do you assess his situation?" Haug: "All beginnings are difficult – and sometimes even awkward, as the keen observer of the DTM footage from Zandvoort could see. I'm hopeful that Timo will still deliver highlights this season."

Question: "This year, two pit stops were introduced in the DTM on Sunday. In your opinion, has this proven successful, and would you welcome two mandatory pit stops on Saturday in the future?" Haug: "Two pit stops were already in place in the previous DTM, too. And they were definitely a welcome addition to the Sunday races."

"The final laps on Sunday at the Lausitzring with three drivers and three brands, including the fantastic drone footage, had the potential to go down in the DTM history books. And that's saying something, given the history of this racing series with its thrilling moments spanning over 40 years. In my opinion, Saturday can be just a one-stop affair. That makes Sunday different from Saturday—and that's a good thing."

Question: "Around Zandvoort and the Norisring, some teams viewed the performance stops as a safety risk due to potential accidents in the pit lane. How should this be handled?" Haug: As the Norisring demonstrated immediately after Zandvoort, the ADAC, the organizer, reacted immediately. A reduced speed limit in the pits fulfilled its intention. Motorsport will never be safe. But sensibly minimizing dangers is the most important task, one that will never be completed."

Question: "Even as a new father, Max Verstappen takes every opportunity to sit in a GT3 car. And he shone with top times at his Nordschleife test debut. How do you view his GT3 guest appearances, and wouldn't it be logical for him to make a guest appearance in the DTM due to his Emil Frey connection?" Haug: "First of all, I find it beyond ridiculous that Max Verstappen has to prove he has a Nordschleife permit to be eligible to race there. I suggest introducing a regulation that this test be abolished without replacement once he has won four world championship titles."

"Max Verstappen is a racing animal in the very best sense. The ADAC and DMSB should propose a swap: no Nordschleife permit test, instead a guest start at Zandvoort in 2026. The additional grandstands from the Formula 1 race could then remain as they are."

© Verstappen.com/David Klopman

Verstappen uses every opportunity to sit in the GT3 Ferrari of the Emil Frey team Zoom

Question: "Do you think he'll do that, and how would he fare?" Haug: "I think he'd be only too happy to do it as soon as the opportunity arose, primarily contractually, of course. But Red Bull traditionally loves the DTM and has been involved there for ages, for good reason. And if Franz Herrmann competes in the DTM and Max Verstappen in Formula 1, Red Bull can launch a second fan collection that would be guaranteed to sell like hot cakes. I don't doubt for a second that Franz Hermann definitely didn't want to finish second in his guest appearance."

Question: "Mercedes-AMG is currently working on a GT3 successor , albeit without long-term partner HWA. What do you think of this project?" Haug: "Undoubtedly a very challenging task, and in my view, more complex than building a competitive car in Formula 1. For nostalgic reasons alone, I naturally hope that this task will be solved perfectly and that the successor can seamlessly continue the success story of its two predecessors over the past 15 years.

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Question: "The ADAC is working on the calendar for the upcoming season. The tracks have remained unchanged for the past three years. Should we stick to the path of focusing on the German region, or would you like to see other or more international tracks in the DTM?" Haug: "I see costs and sustainability as more important than ever. Both are vital for survival, especially for the DTM."

"In a country where more cars are driven than ever, but where minority groups are increasingly protesting against individual transport other than bicycles and cargo bikes, it's of little use to romanticize and say, 'We used to ride in...' The past was the past, and today is today."

"If it were up to me, I would significantly reduce driving times, schedule only one free practice session per race weekend, plus a ten-minute qualifying session at noon, an hour and a half before the Saturday race. And then start on Sunday in reverse order of the Saturday finish. Not to appease the noisy anti-car faction, but to take contemporary common sense into account: Less driving time on the racetrack means lower costs and lower emissions."

"Less training time creates more exciting races, and more exciting races attract more spectators. On the subject of international tracks: Racing in Germany and the surrounding area and further increasing international presence on TV and in the available media must, in my view, continue to be the recipe for the present and the future."

"Anyone who compares the WEC's reach outside of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Formula E with that of the DTM today quickly realizes that the DTM guarantees by far the best cost-benefit ratio."

Question: "Should the DTM race at the Salzburgring? Haug: "I'd be happy to, if the safety criteria are met and the paddock has the capacity to host the DTM. The catchment area there is excellent."

Question: "The ADAC wants to bring Berlin back onto the DTM calendar and use the temporary Formula E track at Tempelhof Airport . What do you think of this idea, and would it be a good step for the DTM?" Haug: "If they're serious about it, it's certainly possible to build a short Norisring-like track on the Tempelhof grounds. I find it hard to imagine the existing Formula E track being suitable for a DTM race. But that's a remote assessment. I've been to a Formula E race before, but I can't competently judge it."

"Having Berlin as a venue on the DTM calendar would certainly be a neat alternative to the idea currently being put forward in the capital of twelve days a year on which cars are allowed to be driven there."

Question: "You have repeatedly warned about excessive costs in the DTM and called for a testing ban at the end of 2023. The ADAC has responded and severely restricted testing. The synthetic fuel you called for has also been available since this year. Are you satisfied with the development, and what else can be done to ensure the DTM's healthy future?" Haug: "Of course, the ADAC didn't do this for me, but rather for the sake of a contemporary present and future of this racing series. In my view, reducing driving times by at least 30 percent per DTM weekend in stage one should be the next step."

"The DTM needs unique selling points worth emulating and, in my opinion, must clearly lead the way. The goal is for other GT3 racing series worldwide to follow this path—and subsequently, of course, the GT2 and GT3 categories as well. Only in this way can the DTM fulfill its important role model function."

Question: "In your opinion, is the DTM already sustainable enough?" Haug: "In my opinion, it's not sustainable enough, just as it isn't victorious enough."