Christian Vietoris: “We need to improve”

Mercedes’ Christian Vietoris has conceded that the Stuttgart manufacturer needs to improve on its Saturday qualifying performances if it is to win races in 2013.

After optimising a good strategy in yesterday’s race, the HWA team driver finished seventh. However like his stablemates, he struggled in qualifying and lined up sixteenth.

The best placed Mercedes on Saturday was Gary Paffett who qualified ninth, after being moved up one place as a result of Mike Rockenfeller’s five-place grid penalty.

“Our biggest problem is Saturday pace,” said Vietoris.

“[The car] was fast last year [in qualifying], and we could fight for poles, but we need to find the right compromise for Saturday and Sunday; we need to improve this so that we can start from further up the grid.

“Then we would be in a position to battle it out for the top race positions.”

However, Vietoris was quick to highlight that the car’s race pace was good, considering he scored his maiden DTM career podium with third at Hockenheim, and stablemate Robert Wickens did the same two weeks later at Brands Hatch.

“We don’t need to speak about the car, because our race pace is good as you can see from two podium finishes on the first two weekends.

“We have extracted the maximum out of the current package and must now endeavour to improve it overall.

“[However], I’m sure we’ll be fighting for podiums and wins again.”

Vietoris currently lies fifth in the drivers’ championship with 25 points and is the best placed of the Mercedes drivers.