The first ADAC Formula 4 pole of the year has gone to Joey Mawson. The young Australian, who drives for the Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing, set the fastest time in qualifying for the first race of the junior formula series in the season opener at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben to claim pole position on Saturday's grid (14:40, live on SPORT1). His lap of 01:26:230 minutes was easily the quickest in Group A, three tenths of a second ahead of closest pursuer Kim Luis Schramm (01:26:543) who drives for the Kerpen-based US Racing team. Schramm's time was the fastest in Qualifying Group B. Third best in the session was Jannes Fittje, Schramm's US Racing team-mate, on 1:26.816 minutes. The outfit run by team principals Ralf Schumacher and Gerhard Ungar has thus managed to get two of its squad into the Top Three.

Mick Schumacher starts from third row

Lining up behind ADAC Stiftung Sport protégé Fittje will be Juri Vips from Estonia (01:26.984). Mick Schumacher, who like Vips drives for the Italian Prema Powerteam, posted a time of 1:26.908 minutes on his hot lap and from fifth place on the grid has a realistic chance of a podium. Taking the remaining spot on the third row is Dutch youngster Job van Uitert (Jenzer Motorsport, 1:127.27).

ADAC Stiftung Sport protégés Mike David Ortmann (ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) and Sophia Flörsch (Motopark) also have cause to feel satisfied with their first quali of the season. Ortmann's fifth place in Group A (1:26.981) puts him ninth on the grid, while Flörsch (01:27.466), who was sixth fastest in Group B, starts from grid position twelve. The fastest eleven in both groups qualify automatically for the weekend's races. Those outside the Top 22 must now compete against each other in a further qualifying heat on Saturday morning (08:55) for the remaining grid positions.

Mawson again on pole in Race 2

The grid positions for the second race on Sunday (10:10, live on SPORT1+) are determined by the second-best lap times in the session. Joey Mawson was once again out in front. His second-best time of 1:26.500 was another strong one. He was followed home by Kim Luis Schramm (1:26.700) and Mike David Ortmann (1:27.032). Jannes Fittje (1:27.034) will be in fifth place on the grid in front of Sophia Flörsch (1:27.481) in the second race.

The grid for the third race on Sunday will be decided by the results from Race 1. The Top Ten will start in reverse order.

Pole-sitter Mawson was ecstatic about his successful start, giving his mechanics a group hug, his face wreathed in smiles: "That's the best start you could ever have, and my aim is now to win the race. What an amazing start to the weekend! I was still a bit uncertain before qualifying. I would like to see dry conditions for the race. I honestly hadn't expected my lead to be so big."

Ralf Schumacher heaped praise on Schramm and Fittje, who had made a big impression on him: "I'm very pleased with those two. In the junior classes, it's always difficult to say whether you then have a good chance in the race itself. One of them could lock up on braking at any time. Nothing is ever certain, as they always say. At any rate, we're definitely in with a good chance of securing a decent finish, but we'll just have to wait and see."

Other comments on ADAC Formula 4 qualifying:

Kim Luis Schramm (US Racing, second on the grid): "I think that we can be pleased. We'll see how it all pans out in tomorrow's race, but the chances are good. When you're this close to winning, you just want to win actually."

Jannes Fittje (US Racing, grid position 3): "We are where we wanted to be, which means that we are well placed for the race. We're on the two front rows, so we can even challenge for the win if all goes well."