MAY 10, 2016

DTM drivers do not miss F1 careers

Two former F1 drivers insist they do not miss the pinnacle of motor racing.

Two former F1 drivers insist they do not miss the pinnacle of motor racing.

In 2013 and 2014, Dani Juncadella tested for the Williams and Force India teams, but now the 25-year-old Spaniard races for Mercedes' premier DTM outfit.

Asked if he misses F1, he told El Confidencial: "No, because for the long-term it is not positive to just be in formula one at any price and with any team.

"Before I saw F1 from the inside it looked like a dream. Then you realise there are seven or eight very lucky drivers but most are struggling to just survive.

"It takes a bit of fun out of it and it is what is different about DTM -- all of the drivers know that at some point, we can demonstrate our potential," he added.

Timo Glock, an experienced F1 driver who is now established in DTM with BMW, thinks the German touring car series is arguably a tougher challenge than F1.

"Many F1 drivers have a hard time when they come into DTM," he told Germany's Welt newspaper. "Here, every tenth really counts, so one detail can be the difference between first and 15th.

"It's not like that in F1. Sebastian Vettel lost half his front wing in China but he was still fast enough to easily finish on the podium," the former Toyota and Marussia driver said.

Juncadella said he is not even a big fan of watching the grands prix.

"From the point of view of a fan, I do not like the racing now as it is too predictable," he said.

"Yes there are entertaining races but you always know that the two Mercedes are going to escape."

(GMM)