Bitter pill for the best BMW driver Sheldon van der Linde: Why the Schubert driver will be demoted on the grid in Spielberg on Saturday
A bitter start to the Spielberg race weekend for BMW co-favorite Sheldon van der Linde. The Schubert driver will be moved back five places on the grid for Saturday’s race due to his third warning of the DTM season. This was announced by race control on Friday morning.
The trigger for the penalty was the black and white flag in Sunday’s race at the Sachsenring: the 2022 DTM champion had overtaken Manthey-EMA Porsche driver Ayhancan Güven in an “incorrect” manner and had to let the Turk pass again.
It was not his only offense at the Sachsenring: He also received a warning in Saturday’s qualifying when he obstructed Abt Audi driver Ricardo Feller on his prep lap.
How does a warning come about?
The first caution was for zigzagging in the pit lane during Saturday’s race at Zandvoort.
Explanation: If a driver passes a competitor by breaking the rules, there is almost always a black and white flag.
An exception is made if a driver gains an advantage by violating the track limits and overtakes a competitor as a result. In this case, race control would order a place swap, but would not issue a warning. Incidentally, six warnings can result in a ten-place penalty.
Unfortunate timing for Sheldon van der Linde
For Sheldon van der Linde, the demotion means a setback in the title race: the best-placed BMW driver in the overall standings, with 112 points still up for grabs, is sixth, 55 points behind his brother Kelvin van der Linde.
The South African was the fastest driver at the Spielberg test and had reckoned on a good chance due to the BMW strength at the Red Bull Ring. The penultimate weekend is considered the last chance for the BMW drivers to score points and go into the finale at Hockenheim with a chance of winning the title.
