De Sterlich was considered one of the great hill racers. A very highly-rated test driver, he was respected for his talent and his innate ability to find the right compromise between development and performance. He is remembered for having funded and supported the ingenuity of Alfieri Maserati and his brothers, whose technical expertise he esteemed.

His investment permitted the construction of the original workshop in Bologna where the first Trident car was born: the 'Tipo 26'. Over the years, his passion was fondly recalled by Ernesto Maserati: 'he always came to our aid whenever we were in difficulty; once a request was made it was never refused.'

His racing career spanned the twelve years between 1920 and 1932, a period characterised not only by track success for he was also involved in the founding of the Monza Autodrome.

Maserati attended his funeral at Teramo in official dress. In commemoration, the city named a street in his honor.