DTM: Where F1 drivers go to retire

[zako85]

Jean Alesi:

Joined in 2002
5 seasons
4 wins
7 podiums


Heinz-Harald Frentzen:

Joined in 2004
3 seasons
0 wins
4 podiums


Mika Hakkinen:

Joined in 2005
3 seasons
3 wins
8 podiums


Ralf Schumacher

Joined in 2008
5 seasons
0 wins
2 podiums


David Coulthard

Joined in 2010
3 seasons
0 wins
0 podiums


It seems like Jean Alesi and Mika Hakkinen were most successful among DTM's F1 refugees.

[Nikki Katz]

I think Timo's the only F1 driver there this year though. They mostly seem to have scooped up drivers from the failing WTCC. F1 drivers without seats don't actually seem to do anything any more, which is totally wrong.

[dj_bytedisaster]

There's still Ralf Schumacher, but he's mainly being Ralf (read: useless). Kubica tested a DTM Merc on thursday, too. What is little known is, that some people also come to F1 or other top-flight openwheel series through DTM. Giancarlo Fisichella, Dario Franchitti or Christian Albers for instance. Being a young DTM pilot for Merc has in the past also been a good place to be in for a McLaren test gig to materialize.

DTM isn't F1Reject heaven, like sportscars. It's actually quite a high quality series. That it was able to survive with just two manufacturers for a number of years is saying a lot.

[TheFamousEccles]

I like the DTM cars, they look awesome!

[zako85]

Indeed, I forgot that Rob Kubica and Glock may be entering DTM this year. The cycle continues. I do think that we may see from them the best to the date DTM performances by an an ex-F1 driver. A lot of former ex-F1 drivers were already past their prime when entering DTM and their motivation probably wasn't there, but Glock and Kubica are still probably near the career high of their skills, and both are hungry for success. I suspect both still wish to "prove" themselves after an untimely end of their F1 careers.

[dj_bytedisaster]

Zako, how long did you exactly follow the DTM? In fact since iot's rebirth in 2000, ex- or future F1 drivers are a rather rare breed in DTM.

Jan Magnussen, Dario Franchitti, Bernd Schneider, Giancarlo Fisichella, Alessandro Nanini, Nicola Larini, Christian Danner, Mixhael Bartels, JJ Lehto, Oliver Gavin,Gabriele Tarquini, Alexander Wurz, Yannick Dalmas, Bernd Mayländer,Stefano Modena

Just a number of illustrous names on the grid of the 1996 DTM season opener. Back in the day you had to be a former or future F1 driver or a seasoned DTM veteran to even make it on the grid.

I don't understand, why people think Jean Alesi or Mikka Häkkinen did badly in their DTM stints. They won races. If you'd sit Alonso into a DTM car, he'd get is Asturian arse whooped for the first races by specialists like Spengler, Green or Ekström. Maybe towards the second half of the season he'd have adapt enough to win a race. You don't just hop into another type of car and be the quickest in it. Quick immediately - yes, but not quite on par with people, who have 10 years of experience in those cars.

Then there's the fact that there are no serial winners in DTM. In a series, where regularily the first 15 cars are separated by less than a second on the grid, you won't go to win two or three races very often. I think Hakkinen and Alesi did very well, especially if you compare them with Frentzen or Ralf Schumacher. You can't count Coulthard, because he was at a small team that ran one or two year old cars and he hauled those old bangers into the points often enough.

Age doesn't count much either. DTM veteran Klaus Ludwig won his last race at the age of 51 in 2001. Bernd Schneider was well past 40 when he clinched his last title. Keke Rosberg won DTM races at age 44. With the cars being so close in terms of performance, Experience and racecraft count a whole lot more than outright speed.