DTM champion Gotz to use #1 after taking inspiration from Verstappen

Gotz clinched his maiden crown in the DTM on his return to the series last year, beating Red Bull junior Liam Lawson and Audi star Kelvin van der Linde in a controversial season finale at the Norisring.

The German driver carried #4 on his Haupt Racing-run Mercedes in 2021, but has elected to race with #1 on his car this year after switching to Winward Racing during the off-season.

He will only become the second reigning champion after Marco Wittmann to contest a DTM season with #1 on their car since the DTM allowed drivers to pick their own car numbers in 2015, a year after F1 introduced a similar numbering system.

Gotz, who has also won titles in Formula BMW, ADAC GT Masters and Blancpain GT Sprint Series, said he had to seize the opportunity to place the #1 sticker on his Mercedes this year as he is aware that he may not get another chance to do so in the near future.

"#4 was the team number; HRT has always been driving with #4 in different series so this was like the base number of the team," he explained.

"But now having the chance to grab the #1 on the car, putting the #1 on the car is outstanding, and I think there are not many guys who are able to do this. 

"Max Verstappen is doing in F1 because he says in this lifetime there are not many chances to do so. 

"So I said it looks pretty nice, the Mercedes, with #1 on it. And there are not many back-to-back champions in the past in the DTM and this shows how competitive the series is. 

"So I said, 'okay, now it is time, you're the champion, enjoy the moment having #1 on it'. 

"I think it is going to be great to see #1 on the car and a great opportunity for me using this. I've never done this before, even when I became champion in Formula BMW or in GT Masters, I always