Drive-through penalty costs Roberto Merhi victory

Mercedes’ Roberto Merhi feels the chance to take his maiden DTM victory at Hockenheim was lost as a result of a drive-through penalty.

The HWA driver took his best DTM career result after a stunning drive which saw him move from 21st to second.

Despite being happy with the result, Merhi feels he could have beaten Timo Glock to victory had it not been for a drive-through penalty given to him early in the race after jumping the start.

“I had the pace to win today and it’s a shame I didn’t because of the jump-start penalty,” Merhi told TouringCarTimes. “I just couldn’t win with the time I lost as a result of it and if anything, I was quite down after it.

“However, I couldn’t ask for anymore from today; this morning when I woke up and saw rain, I was so happy and expected to be in the top five because I’m good in the wet.

“To be honest I need to be happy after such a tough year. Even if I finished fifth, I’d have been pleased, but the podium or a win is better.”

Following his second place finish, Merhi jumped to fifteenth in the drivers’ standings, but added a win would have elevated him to 12th in the rankings.

“If I won I could have been 12th,” he continued. “Anyway, that’s not bad because here are 22 of the best drivers in the world; at the end of the day I’m happy.”