By alley - Jun 27, 2016, 7:01 AM ET

DTM: Mercedes slams Ekstrom over Norisring clash

Mercedes DTM boss Ulrich Fritz has slammed Audi driver Mattias Ekstrom for wiping out Christian Vietoris and Robert Wickens in the opening race at the Norisring (video, below)

Ekstrom dropped from pole to fourth on Sunday's grid

as a penalty for colliding with the two Mercedes drivers

while they were running first and second, which led to Audi taking its first win on the street circuit since 2002 with Edoardo Mortara inheriting the lead from fourth place.

"I don't believe that sort of thing has any place in fair racing, and I'm sure the fans don't want to see it either," said Fritz. "After Spielberg, [Ekstrom] complained about various other drivers, calling them 'clowns.' [On Saturday], he earned himself a red nose of his own.

"We were well on our way to wrapping up another victory at the Norisring, then came that move which totally unnecessarily took out the two Mercedes placed first and second."

Ekstrom said he would "chalk the weekend up to experience" while Audi DTM chief Dieter Gass admitted "there were a few circumstances we'd have wished to have been different" surrounding the manufacturer's first Norisring win since Laurent Aiello's success in a fierce battle with Bernd Schneider.

However, Abt team director Hans-Jurgen Abt said the criticism – including Wickens describing Ekstrom as "an idiot" – had gone too far.

"I'm sorry for Eki," he said. "He was the fastest Audi driver in both qualifying sessions and was struck by major misfortune in both races. That he's being attacked so hard by some is not justified.

"But then, if you dish it out, you have to be able to take it."

Vietoris, who was leading the race when Ekstrom crashed into him while trying to pass Wickens, said "excuses don't help matters."

"Everyone in our team is working really hard and doing everything we can to race and fight for wins," the German added. "And then to lose everything we've earned as a result of Ekstrom's actions is not right as far as I'm concerned."

Originally on Autosport.com