Mueller to Leave Audi at End of DTM Season

Two-time DTM runner-up Nico Mueller will part ways with Audi Sport at the end of the current DTM campaign, bringing an eight-year relationship to an early end.

Audi wrote in a statement on Wednesday that both parties had come to a mutual agreement to terminate Mueller’s contract at the end of this season to allow him to pursue other opportunities in prototype racing as well as Formula E.

“Just like René Rast, Nico Müller was originally intended as a driver for our LMDh project,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Rolf Michl.

“Nico has intensively prepared himself for prototype racing with races in the LMP2 class. In addition to Formula E, Nico sees his future at Le Mans and in prototype racing.

“We can’t offer him that at the moment, so it was with a heavy heart that we jointly decided to let him go and give him the opportunity to realize his dream.”

Mueller first joined Audi’s DTM ranks in 2014 and took the first of 11 race victories in 2016.

The Swiss driver developed into a title contender during the series’ Class One era, finishing second in the championship behind Rene Rast in both 2019 and 2020.

Additionally, Mueller formed part of Audi’s effort in Formula E as a test and development driver and was a factory driver in Audi’s customer racing program where he most notably won the Nürburgring 24 in 2015.

This year, he’s raced alongside Valentino Rossi in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe by AWS Endurance Cup, also teaming with Fred Vervisch.

“That was a very difficult decision,” said Müller about his departure.  “Audi gave me the chance to enter professional motorsport.

“I owe a lot to the company and am a big fan of the brand and its cars. Also, the cooperation with Audi in Switzerland has always been great and very special for me. I still have goals in motorsport that unfortunately cannot be realized with Audi.

“By entering Formula 1 there are now other priorities at Audi. That’s why I’m very grateful to Rolf Michl for giving me the opportunity to develop further.”

Mueller is understood to be set for a move to Peugeot Sport’s Hypercar program in the FIA World Endurance Championship, with leading French publication Endurance-Info reporting that he could replace James Rossiter as early as the Bahrain season finale in November.

Mueller has so far this season contested WEC races with LMP2 squad Vector Sport, taking part in every race except the Fuji round due to a clash with DTM.

He has also signed with Team Abt Sportsline for the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship campaign.