Gary Paffett 'disappointed' at 2016 DTM driving standards
Former DTM champion Gary Paffett has been surprised by the driving standards in the opening two race weekends of the 2016 season
The Hockenheim and Red Bull Ring events have featured plenty of on-track incidents between drivers, with several disagreements boiling over onto social media in the days following the races.
"The first two race weekends of the season are always pretty intense, and there's a lot of contact and things going on," said Paffett.
"I have nothing against young drivers or rookies - I was generally surprised by the level of driving and also disappointed."
The interaction on social media, which went as far as the Audi Sport account posting a video of Antonio Felix da Costa's BMW hitting Audi driver Edoardo Mortara before the latter retaliated, has varied between being serious and tongue in cheek.
Mercedes driver Daniel Juncadella jokingly suggested the drivers would need a cage-fighting arena to settle their differences, and Paffett added that a destruction derby could be required.
The 2005 champion believes the fact drivers are having discussions in the public eye is a positive move.
"This year, drivers are maybe a little more vocal about it in the public domain," he said.
"It's only fair to our fans and the public to let them know what's going on, what we're feeling.
"Motorsport has changed, and fans have a lot more contact with the drivers. So, we should do our bit and share our emotions with them."
Paffett was unhappy with the driving of two-time champion Timo Scheider in Austria, and after they exchanged words in parc ferme post-race the discussion continued on Twitter.
"It's not as if we're hiding away from each other and talking behind each other's backs," Paffett said.
"I spoke face to face with Timo directly after the race in Spielberg.
"We were communicating our feelings more openly."
Antonio Felix da Costa hits out at Edoardo Mortara after DTM clash
Lausitz DTM: Miguel Molina leads Jamie Green on all-Audi front row
Las Vegas approves plan to shut Strip for F1 race until 2032
Officials in Las Vegas have approved a plan to shut the Strip for the Formula 1 grand prix for the next 10 years as they eye a “lifetime in partnership.”
Porsche boss “as surprised as anyone” over Gulf-Williams F1 social media frenzy
Porsche’s head of motorsport Thomas Laudenbach found it “funny” that streamlining its Instagram channels caused a Formula 1 social media speculation frenzy last month.
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
OPINION: At the Williams 2023 Formula 1 season launch, Alex Albon’s easy-going nature was again a point of focus. But does being “too nice” really matter in modern F1? Albon’s own expressions put that in an intriguing new light
Why Alfa Romeo has kept its blade roll hoop on 2023 F1 car
The Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team has retained its unique blade roll hoop for the C43 but designed it to withstand load tests that the FIA will introduce in 2024.
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
The season just gone was a memorable one for many of our staff writers, who are fortunate enough to cover motorsport around the world. Here are our picks of the best (and in some cases, most eventful) from 2022
The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right
Nyck de Vries’s Italian GP exploits weren’t the first post-eleventh-hour call-up in motorsport history, and won’t be the last either. Here are some offbeat tales from the past
The longest-serving Red Bull driver revealing F1’s true brutality
His day of days in Formula 1 came at Indianapolis in 2005, a day grand prix racing strives to forget. But Patrick Friesacher, the long-serving Red Bull lieutenant, remains active today driving a two-seater that provides ordinary people with a glimpse of an F1 car’s savage potential, including this writer...
How the DTM has come back stronger from its Norisring nadir
OPINION: Questionable driving standards and farcical team orders meant the DTM's first season under GT3 regulations ended under a cloud. But the organisation has responded firmly by banning team orders and welcomed new manufacturers, making for an intriguing season ahead as new and returning names prepare for battle
The remarkable career of a 'classy' champion who rejected politics
Over two decades as a factory driver with Audi and BMW, Martin Tomczyk earned the respect of team-mates and rivals as a hard but fair racer. After calling time on his racing career, the 2011 DTM champion sat down with Autosport to look back
The other Hamilton conqueror seeking career revival
On his rise through the ranks before reaching Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton was usually a cut above the rest. But he never truly asserted himself over a Mercedes-backed fellow Briton who traded single-seaters for touring cars and is now seeking new opportunities after a year largely spent on the sidelines
How the DTM's shambolic finale poses awkward future questions
OPINION: The scenes at the Norisring as Mercedes used blatant team orders to secure the first DTM title of the new GT3 era totally undermined the credibility of the championship. But as well as overshadowing the season, it also presents uncomfortable questions to series bosses about the direction it is headed in
How Audi's new DTM star is channeling Rast to achieve his "childhood dream"
Having learned the ropes in GT3 alongside Rene Rast, Kelvin van der Linde is in line to take up the three-time champion's baton as Audi's new DTM king. From humble origins in South Africa, it's been a remarkable journey so far for the current series leader, but he knows that the 2021 title is a long way from settled just yet
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.