Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Juniorteam) made the best possible start to the first season of the ADAC Formula 4. After winning the inaugural race on Saturday, the 18-year-old also won the second round in the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Starting from pole position, the HTP Juniorteam driver made a perfect start to the season and leads the overall standings after two of three races at Oschersleben. "Oschersleben has not necessarily been one of my best tracks in the past, so I'm even happier now to have made such a perfect start to the season." said Dienst.
The HTP Juniorteam had two reasons to celebrate: Dienst's team-mate Janneau Esmeijer (18, NED, HTP Juniorteam) drove to second place, giving the team a one-two victory; the outfit is also busy contesting the ADAC GT Masters. Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam) completed the party on the podium in third place. It was his second podium after taking P2 in the inaugural race of the ADAC Formula 4 on Saturday.
Aron lays timely foundations for second podium
All 35 drivers made a clean start to the second race of the season. Dienst kept things under control on the re-start after the first of two safety car periods, asserting his position in the lead unchallenged. Prema Powerteam youngster Aron laid the foundation for his second podium finish on the same lap, winning through against Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing) to take third place.
Aron had to defend against Mawson, as the two HTP Juniorteam drivers drew away in the lead. The Australian was again in no position to mount a decisive overtaking manoeuvre after a second safety car period on the final stint and had to settle for fourth place. Things were much closer between race winner Dienst and Esmeijer. After 18 laps, Dienst was just 0.798 seconds up on his rival, who posted the fastest lap.
Ferrari Driver Academy youngster best-placed rookie
Mattia Drudi (16, ITA, SMG Swiss Motorsport Group) took fifth place behind Mawson; the Italian driver achieved a podium on Saturday for SMG Swiss Motorsport Group in the first race. Tim Zimmermann (18, GER, Neuhauser Racing) made the best charge of the race. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé turned on the power in the middle of the race, gaining ten places in all to finish sixth. Giorgio Maggi (17, CHE, SMG Swiss Motorsport Group) was seventh, while Zhou Guan Yu (15, ITA, Prema Powerteam) placed eighth behind Maggi to achieve his first points-scoring finish in the ADAC Formula 4. P8 also earned the 15-year-old member of the Ferrari Driver Academy the accolade of best placed rookie.
Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark) and Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) completed the Top Ten. Young talents with famous names jockeyed for position directly behind the young Russian, driving for kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport. Jonathan Cecotto (15, VEN, Motopark), the son of ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver and motorcycle world champion Johnny Cecotto, took eleventh place from Mick Schumacher (16, GER, Van Amersfoort Racing). The son of record Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher leads the ADAC Formula 4 Rookie Cup from Cecotto and Zhou Guan Yu. In the third race (3:20pm, live on SPORT1), Austrian Thomas Preining (16, AUT, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) will start from pole position just in front of Schumacher.
Comments from the podium
Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Juniorteam), winner:
"Two starts and two wins - it could not have gone better. Oschersleben has not necessarily been one of my best tracks in the past, so I'm even happier now to have made such a perfect start to the season. I'm also very pleased about the team's one-two victory. My team-mate didn't make things easy for me. I knew he would be fast, but we gave each other space at all times, drawing away from the rest of the field together. It was a bit frustrating that we kept losing our lead whenever the safety car came out. I had at the same time some clean air through those laps, and was relatively relaxed in the end on my way to the win."
Janneau Esmeijer (18, NED, HTP Juniorteam), second:
"I'm really pleased about this podium and the team's one-two win. Of course, I pushed hard to take P1. At the same time, though, I didn't want to take too many risks, preferring to secure second place at the finish line after Saturday's tough race. It was also important in view of the upcoming third race not to put too much strain on the tyres. Unfortunately, the driver to my rear in P3 closed on me after the second safety car period. I had to look in the mirror a few times, but quickly pulled out a small lead fortunately."
Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam), third:
"I've got mixed feelings about my podium. Of course, this result is very good, but victory was not impossible. Unfortunately, my first re-start was not perfect and I had to let the front-runners draw away. However, my speed was again level with that of the leaders after the second safety car period. I wanted to take my chance and attack but made a small mistake in doing so and the gap was again too big."
Zhou Guan Yu (15, ITA, Prema Powerteam), best-placed rookie:
"I'm very happy with my finish as best rookie. The first race on Saturday didn't go absolutely according to plan, and it's nice to hit back today. I've had hardly any chance to test the car previously, so for that reason, my main priority at the moment is to learn as much as possible. I was the best newcomer today, but I intend to attack the top guys in future."