Mercedes says DTM's manufacturers too spread out

DTM has introduced several key changes to its format and regulations over the winter, including higher-degradation tyres, banning tyre warmers, awarding points to the top three in each qualifying session and making both races of every weekend the same distance.

Fritz reckons the entertainment value of the series has grown this year, but complained the difference between Audi, Mercedes and BMW is too big.

Audi has been the strongest team so far, with four of its six drivers sitting in the top five in the standings. On the other hand, BMW has scored the least amount of points in five of the six races and its top driver Timo Glock is only seventh overall.

"I think [the field] should be much more mixed, that is something I would really like, not because I want to win races," said Fritz. "For sure [I want to win], but also for the fans.

"It is a better show if the three brands also battle each other and not one day one brand is in front and the other day the other brand.

"If you look at the performance deltas, they are also created by the weight system. [I hope] over time it will be equalised it and then we will not see six Audis, six Mercedes and six BMWs."

Early-pitting strategies won't always work 

Also among DTM's 2017 changes was the scrapping of the pit window in races, meaning drivers are now allowed to change tyres from the first lap until the last.

While the faster-degrading tyres were thought to limit the range of options for strategies, the past three races have seen drivers who pitted early gain a significant advantage.

In Hungary, Paul di Resta, Timo Glock and Bruno Spengler benefited from a well-timed safety car to complete the podium from 13th, 14th and 17th on the grid in Race 1.

Then, the Sunday race saw Mattias Ekstrom and Maxime Martin taking second and third by pitting in the first three laps, the latter making it to the podium from last on the grid.

While Fritz admitted that tyres able to cover whole races were not part of the discussions prior to the 2017 season, he remains confident the same thing will not be possible at every venue.

"To be honest, no, we did not believe that [the tyres could last for the whole race]," he said.

"We knew that maybe for some tracks like the Hungaroring you could do a lot with the tyre, or also Lausitzring. I still believe you can't really do it in Hockenheim or Zandvoort.

"At Zandvoort there is no way you could do something like that and also not in Hockenheim, there would be just too much tyre degradation."