DTM Hockenheimring: Ben Green on Maiden Pole, Ferrari Sweeps Qualifying 1

The final weekend of the 2025 DTM season kicked off with a dramatic Qualifying 1 at the Hockenheimring. Nine drivers are still in the title fight, and the grid is set for a tense showdown.

Windy weather and a 50:50 chance of rain made qualifying crucial — a front-row start could decide who stays in contention.

Ben Green (#10 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) starred in the first qualifying session. The Brit took his first-ever DTM pole with a 1m36.795sec lap, his strongest performance of the season and perfect timing for the finale.

Alongside him is teammate Jack Aitken (#14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari), one of the title contenders, while Thierry Vermeulen (#69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari) made it a Ferrari 1-2-3. Emil Frey Racing couldn’t have asked for more.

Thomas Preining (#91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R) starts fourth. Fastest in free practice, he couldn’t stop the Ferrari charge but remains well placed to fight. Behind him, the top 10 features Morris Schuring, Gilles Magnus, Maro Engel, Ayhancan Güven, and René Rast — all names with the pace to shake up the title battle.

For the championship leaders, it was far from ideal. Lucas Auer (#22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf) spun on his final lap and damaged his car. He’s been the most consistent driver this year, scoring in every race, but now faces big pressure starting from 18th. Jordan Pepper (#63 TGI Team Lamborghini), second in the standings, fared not much better with 14th on the grid after his quickest lap was set under yellow flags and subsequently deleted. He’ll need a huge charge through the midfield to keep his title hopes alive.

With 56 points still on the table, nothing is settled. Auer leads, but Pepper, Rast, Engel, Güven, Aitken, Preining, and even Jules Gounon all remain in play. Every lap and every point will matter.

Ferrari looks quick, but in DTM anything can happen — and with rain in the forecast, the fight for the crown could flip in a heartbeat. The stage is set for one of the most dramatic finales in recent DTM history.

FULL QUALIFYING 1 RESULTS

UPDATE: Thierry Vermeulen has been disqualified from Qualifying 1. Read more.