Wittmann: “Preparations have obviously been a bit different. We had far more time to work on your fitness. The amount of stamina and strength training we did was huge and far greater than usual. Otherwise, we moved the team meetings back a little until we were allowed to meet up again. However, we also did a lot virtually in the meantime – things like Skype meetings, Zoom meetings, etc. That was obviously new territory for us all. It actually worked really well, even though I am not really a big fan of virtual stuff. I prefer to speak to people face to face.”

Wittmann: “It is obviously an extremely compressed weekend, when everything has to run smoothly. The fact that we are racing at Spa for the first time in 15 years will make life a little bit difficult for everyone. Both BMW and Audi had the opportunity to test there for a day, with Augusto Farfus doing the driving for us. We gathered the first basic data there so we will travel to Spa with some sort of set-up already. However, we only have one practice session to change things, then it is straight into qualifying. As a driver, you have to find your feet quickly out on the track – but I like challenges like that. You don’t have a lot of time to think, because everything comes thick and fast and you just have to get everything right. I am looking forward to it.”

Wittmann: “It is always helpful to have an experienced team and to know each other well, then you already know how to get started and what set-up you need at many racetracks. I think the busy calendar will not make a big difference, as we will not have much time for analyses and everyone is ultimately in the same boat. When we have a double-header, as we will at the Lausitzring and Zolder, then you don’t have much time for reflection. You just have to go out and perform again. On top of that, you have the fact that we are racing on different layouts, which I personally find really cool. It is a bit like starting from scratch again the following weekend.”

Wittmann: “It was an extremely bitter pill for me. I am in direct communication with the organisers, MCN (Motorsport Club Nürnberg), for whom it was really a herculean task. I tried to give a lot of input and to help, and I think we were well on the way to making the event possible. You have to consider that it is not a permanent racetrack, so it costs a lot to set up, for example. Eventually, the city of Nuremberg vetoed it. In these times, it goes without saying that safety has to take priority. Despite that, it was still a real shame for me personally, as it is my home race. A lot of love and emotion goes into that event.”