Kelvin van der Linde, BMW driver, experienced an intense day at Sachsenring after being withdrawn from the race due to an accident with Maro Engel, AMG driver. The incident occurred at the penultimate corner of the race, triggering van der Linde’s frustration, who expressed his anger over the radio. ‘Who hit me? What an idiot!’ he exclaimed, reflecting his disillusionment with a problematic season.
This incident is not the first of the year; it’s already van der Linde’s seventh retirement in 14 races, marking a season filled with difficulties. After meeting with the officials, who imposed a 15-second penalty on Engel, the situation took an unexpected turn. In an act of support, van der Linde embraced Engel, acknowledging the pain that he likely felt at that moment.
Van der Linde explained that he wanted to express his support to Engel, who has been fighting for the title. ‘I know how it feels when you see your options fading away. He has been in competition for years and wants to make his dream come true,’ van der Linde commented, adding that he respects him deeply.
A moment of mutual understanding
His experience dates back to 2021 and 2024, years in which he also fought for the title in DTM, finishing third and second respectively. ‘I just wanted to tell him not to be overwhelmed by disappointment and to keep moving forward,’ emphasized the South African driver, highlighting the mutual respect between them.
For van der Linde, the accident is ‘water under the bridge’. ‘It’s a mistake that can happen,’ he stated, underscoring that both parties have shared many competitions over the years, with many ups and downs. Moreover, they have been respectful rivals, even during complicated moments, as is the current case.
Engel’s future in the title fight
Currently, Engel finds himself in a difficult position in the overall standings, sitting second with a 23-point gap behind the leader, Thomas Preining from Porsche, as the season approaches its end in Hockenheim. Regaining lost ground will be a challenge, with only 56 points still in play.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
