Wehrlein slams Audi and Scheider over Spielberg tangle
Mercedes' Pascal Wehrlein has angrily vented his fury at Audi and Timo Scheider for their actions following the controversial last lap clash between the two DTM constructors at the Red Bull Ring.
Wehrlein's HWA team mate Robert Wickens began the last lap locked in combat with Scheider for sixth position. As the Canadian defended his position into turn 2, the young German seized the opportunity to sneak past the pair on the exit of the hairpin.
That piece of inter-Mercedes strategy incensed the Audi camp, which led to the now already infamous radio message - that was also broadcast on live TV - seemingly requesting Scheider [in German; 'schieb ihn raus'] to 'push him out'.
Scheider, now behind the two HWA C63's, deliberate or not, made contact with Wickens, who could do nothing but sail into rear of Wehrlein, both sending them into the gravel trap as a result.
Wehrlein's stint at the championship summit proved to be short lived after only acquiring the lead after yesterday's first race.
"After this race, it's all about the incident on the last lap, obviously," said Wehrlein.
"Audi's and Timo Scheider's actions were totally lacking in sportsmanship and cost me vital points in the championship battle. Such a thing should never happen in our sport.
"Nevertheless, I will, of course, not give up and try to turn my anger into positive energy in order to fight back with good results in the next races."
Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich expressed his sorrow and regret surrounding the ill-thought radio message but denied it being an direct order to Scheider to take the Wehrlein and Wickens out of the race.
"That was obviously not a nice ending of an otherwise tremendous race," said Dr Ullrich.
"What was done with Timo was not the proper way to go about things. But it was most definitely not my intention that Robert (Wickens) and Pascal (Wehrlein) end up in the gravel trap. I'm sorry that I shouted, 'Timo push him out' in my initial emotion at the command post.
"This was not an instruction for Timo by any means. I can only apologize to Mercedes for this remark. An expression like that does not reflect my idea of motorsport, but was strictly due to the adrenaline at that moment."
Ullrich continued in saying that how Mercedes conducted themselves in the heat of battle with Scheider was bound to provoke a reaction.
"I'm a racer and was fuming about the way Timo was dealt with," the Audi boss continued.
"It's a shame that due to this incident a shadow has been cast on the impeccable performance delivered by Mattias and the entire Audi squad."
The incident looks set to cause severe ramifications as the championship battle begins to reach boiling point with four-race weekends to go, starting with Moscow in one months time.
