ADAC Formula 4 has returned from the summer break. The fifth round of fixtures in the ADAC High-Speed Academy are being staged this weekend at the Nürburgring. 36 young talents got the chance to familiarise themselves with track conditions during first practice on Friday morning. Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Juniorteam) made the best start to the weekend. The HTP Juniorteam rider set the fastest time of 1:28.053 minutes.

Janneau Esmeijer (18, NED, HTP Juniorteam) rounded off a strong team result for HTP Juniorteam with second place. He was 0.567 seconds down on team-mate Dienst. Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) finished third on the timesheets with a personal best of 1:28.651 minutes.

Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam) slotted into fourth place on his return to the ADAC Formula 4. His best lap of 1:28.961 minutes was just 0.908 seconds off the fastest time posted by Dienst. Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) likewise made a good start to his second race weekend in the ADAC Formula 4. The 15-year-old posted the fifth fastest lap time of 1:28.993 minutes.

Title contender Mawson in front at opening session

Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing) finished ahead in the battle between the title contenders. Placed second in the championship standings, he came home in sixth position in first practice. Overall leader Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark) only completed five laps and had to settle for 16th place. Mawson's team-mate Harrison Newey (17, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing), series newcomer Giuliano Raucci (16, BRA, Prema Powerteam), Marek Böckmann (18, GER, Jenzer Motorsport) and Tim Zimmermann (18, GER, Neuhauser Racing) completed the Top Ten.

Mick Schumacher (16, GER, Van Amersfoort Racing), whose father Michael Schumacher grew up not far away in Kerpen, secured the twelfth-best lap time of 1:29.526 minutes in first practice. Local driver Jason Kremer (20, GER, Team Timo Scheider) and Mauro Auricchio (17, BRA, Team Timo Scheider) finished 26th and 33rd respectively at this home fixture for Team Timo Scheider.

SPORT1 will broadcast all races on free-to-air TV

Fans can watch all three ADAC Formula 4 races from the Nürburgring live on free-to-air TV. TV partner SPORT1 will feature the first two races on Saturday August 15th at 11:55 am and 4:30 pm. SPORT1 will also broadcast Sunday's third race at 3:30 pm on free-to-air TV. All 24 races of the ADAC Formula 4 are also available as live streams on www.SPORT1.de and adac.de/motorsport.