Maximilian Paul’s journey in the DTM has come full circle with his return to Grasser Racing Team, the squad with which he secured his maiden victory in the championship. After navigating the challenges of running his own outfit, Paul Motorsport, while competing on track, the German now enters a new chapter as a Lamborghini works driver with the Austrian team. In an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief, Paul reflected on the key moments of that journey, the lessons learned from leading his own team and the experiences that shaped his path back to the DTM grid.
Nürburgring win with Grasser proves decisive for Paul’s DTM ambitions
Paul described his maiden DTM victory at the Nürburgring in 2023 as a key moment in shaping the next stage of his career. The result strengthened the confidence of sponsors who had already supported him in other series and helped secure their backing for a full-time campaign in the championship. Their belief in both Paul and the potential of the DTM grew after the breakthrough win. Plans were initially in place to continue the project with Grasser Racing Team in 2024, but several circumstances ultimately prevented the collaboration from materialising at that time.
“So, in principle, the victory at that time was very decisive for me in continuing to drive in the DTM or even entering the DTM full-time. At that point, I still had some good sponsors who had already supported me in other series.”
“They thought it was very good and liked the idea of the DTM. And with the victory, I was able to convince the sponsors a little further to take the next step. And then a project was originally planned for 2024 with Grasser, which unfortunately wasn’t possible for various reasons.”
From founding Paul Motorsport to returning with Grasser
Paul explained that the journey towards his return to Grasser Racing Team continued through the creation of his own outfit, Paul Motorsport, which he viewed as another important step on the path back to the DTM with the Austrian squad. The new chapter also marked a further milestone in his career, as he joined the programme as a Lamborghini works driver. A reunion with team owner Gottfried Grasser carried particular significance for Paul, who praised the Austrian’s dedication and described him as one of the most passionate figures in motorsport. Their successful history together strengthened his confidence that the current partnership could once again deliver strong results.
“And yes, then we embarked on a longer journey as our own team, Paul Motorsport, which was another stepping stone towards the DTM with Grasser. Now this year as a works driver too. And of course I’m happy to be back with Gottfried [Grasser].”
“In my opinion, he is one of the best or, how shall we say, most passionate motorsport enthusiasts I know. He is passionate about it day and night. Of course, it’s nice to see that he is always successful, also together, as our first encounter on the track was so successful. And now, ultimately, in the constellation we are in, I think it can definitely turn out well.”
Paul Motorsport responsibilities tested Paul beyond the cockpit
Reflecting on the past two seasons, Paul described the period as particularly demanding, both on and off the track. Alongside his role as a driver, he also managed Paul Motorsport, which required him to oversee technical matters, staff, finances and the overall organisation of the team. Those responsibilities often pulled his focus away from purely driving. Operating with a significantly smaller budget than many of his competitors added further challenges throughout the campaign. Despite this, a strong relationship with Grasser Racing Team remained valuable during that time and provided support in certain areas while he was running his own operation.
“For me, the last two years have been challenging, not only in terms of driving, but also as a person and in business. Because I ran Paul Motorsport, the team. I couldn’t just focus on my driving, but also had to take care of the technology, the staff, the finances, the entire organisation – everything ran through my hands.”
“And that naturally distracts you from the essentials of driving. Especially since we also had a very, very small budget compared to others or, for example, Grasser. I’ve always had a good relationship with Grasser, which also helped me in certain things when I was running my own team.”
From team owner to focused driver once again
Paul admitted that managing the overall operation of his own team sometimes meant smaller details inevitably slipped through the cracks. Despite the challenges, he described the experience as valuable and an important part of his journey, one that taught him to appreciate the opportunities he has today. Running Paul Motorsport also gave him a new perspective on the pressures teams face behind the scenes, something that shaped how he now views the work done by those around him. Returning to a more traditional driver role allows him to focus entirely on driving again, while Grasser Racing Team now handles the wider structure. The reunion with the Austrian squad also carries special meaning, as it was with them that he secured his first DTM victory.
“But when you have to take care of the big picture, the details naturally get a bit lost. It was a cool time, but I definitely learned from it that you should appreciate what you have. And that it’s part of my journey.”
“I know what the other side looks like. That means when a team is struggling, you shouldn’t be too judgemental but rather try to support them. And for me as a driver, the advantage now is, of course, that I can focus purely on what I do, which is driving, and not everything else.”
“The team now has a very well-positioned driver for that. And I’m naturally delighted that it’s Grasser, with whom I also won my first DTM race.”
Paul reflects on podium success and strong race pace in 2025
Paul reflected on several highlights from the 2025 season, with his first podium at Zandvoort standing out as a defining moment. The result marked the maiden top-three finish for his own team, Paul Motorsport, and carried special significance. He also recalled a particularly strong race at the Lausitzring, where the car showed exceptional pace throughout the field. Starting from the back, Paul fought his way forward and proved to be one of the quickest Lamborghini drivers on track. However, a mistake during the race led to a penalty that ultimately cost them the result. Despite that setback, he emphasised that there were multiple races where smart strategy and solid execution allowed the team to show its true potential.
“Yes, of course, my first podium with my own team in Zandvoort. First podium for Paul Motorsport. A few good qualifying results. Lausitzring was a very good race. Unfortunately, we weren’t successful in the final result, but we were actually the fastest car on the grid. Also the fastest car compared to the other Lambos.”
“And we basically drove through the field, from the back to the front. But unfortunately, we didn’t get any reward for the result because I made a mistake myself, for which we received a penalty. On the other hand, we had a good race here and there, where we were very clever strategically.”
Memorable races despite results not telling the full story
Looking back on the season, several races left a lasting impression for Paul. The podium finish at Zandvoort stood out as a key highlight, while the final two races at Hockenheim also provided memorable moments. In both cases, strategic decisions meant starting from the back of the grid before charging through the field with strong pace. Those comeback drives created exciting moments on track, even if the final results did not fully reflect the performances. While Paul remained focused on achieving stronger results overall, he still viewed that period as a valuable experience before moving into a new chapter with greater opportunities.
“Whether it was Zandvoort, where we made it onto the podium, or Hockenheim, the last two races. We also drove from the back of the field to the front, purely for strategic reasons. Those were some cool impressions. But of course not in terms of the result, which is where I want to be. Accordingly, this is a new chapter with better opportunities in the overall picture. But it was still a cool time.”
The mindset that shaped Paul’s maiden DTM win with Grasser
Asked what advice he would give his younger self ahead of his DTM debut in 2023, Paul admitted he would likely change very little. He believed the mindset he carried into that race, approaching it with minimal expectations and simply focusing on the job at hand, played a crucial role in the outcome. In his view, that mentality is something he should replicate more often rather than revise in hindsight. Looking back, Paul felt the race unfolded almost perfectly, with every moment, including the small ups and downs during the event, ultimately contributing to the successful result.
“Before the victory? Any advice? Hard to say because I don’t think I would have given myself any advice at that moment because the approach I had in that race should rather be used as advice for other races I drive, rather than the other way around”
“Because I think the good thing about the race was that I went into it with pretty much no expectations and focused on my job. And you should do that more often, or at least in most races because that’s when you perform best, at least for me. And if I had to give one more tip, I would almost say no because the race was perfect from start to finish.”
“If I were to change anything now, I think it would have turned out differently. With ups and downs, all the ups and downs in the race had their advantages.”
