Second race, second win. The Australian Joey Mawson (20, Van Amersfoort Racing) also won the second round of the ADAC Formula 4 in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Mawson won the race from pole position on Sunday morning, finishing ahead of Kim Luis Schramm (18, DEU, US Racing) and ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann (16, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV). Mick Schumacher (17, DEU, Switzerland, Prema Powerteam) was again fourth. Jannes Fittje (16, DEU, US Racing), who was third in the first race on Saturday, finished fifth.
"This is the perfect start to the new season. I'm very pleased to have two wins in the bag on the very first race weekend. It's just great," said Joey Mawson. The race was again started on a wet track behind the safety car, as on the previous day. Mawson and his rivals set the pace after one lap behind the safety car. However, the safety car came back out on track after contacts involving Yannick Brandt (15, Switzerland, Lechner Racing), Louis Gachot (16, UK, US Racing) and Carrie Schreiner (17, DEU, US Racing).
Schumacher overtakes Fittje - Mawson defends lead
A third safety car period was initiated after the restart following a collision between ADAC Sports Foundation protégée Sophia Flörsch (15, DEU, Motopark) and Moritz Müller-Crepon (19, Switzerland, Van Amersfoort Racing).
Mawson, however, stayed in front again after the ensuing restart, pulling out a small lead as cushion against Schramm and Ortmann in pursuit. Schumacher, who had started the race from ninth position, made a move on Fittje with just a few laps remaining and muscled his way into fourth place. Mawson ultimately reached the finish line 1.757 seconds up on Schramm and 3.681 seconds ahead of Ortmann. Schumacher (4.220 seconds) and Fittje (4.883) came home next.
Third race of season in afternoon - Juri Vips on pole
Schumacher' s team-mate Juan Manuel Correa (16, Italy, Prema Powerteam) finished as best rookie by coming home sixth ahead of Simo Laaksonen (17, Finland, Motopark) and Kami Laliberté (16, Switzerland, Van Amersfoort Racing). The two Neuhauser Racing drivers Nicklas Nielsen (19, Denmark) and Felipe Drugovich (15, Brazil) completed the Top Ten.
Mawson leads the overall standings after two races of 24. He is on 50 points, 14 points up on Schramm (36 points). Fittje is in third place behind the two front-runners on 25 points, followed by Schumacher with 24.
The third race on Sunday afternoon at 4.40 pm marks the end of the first race weekend of the second ADAC Formula 4 season. SPORT1+ will feature a recording of the race at 8.00 pm. The grid order in this fixture is determined by the result of the first race. The Top Ten start in reverse order. So, double winner Joey Mawson will line up in P10 on the grid on Sunday afternoon (4.40 pm). Estonian Juri Vips (15, Prema Powerteam) will start from pole position ahead of Sophia Flörsch and Dutchman Job van Uitert (17, Jenzer Motorsport).
Comments on the second ADAC Formula 4 race of the season:
Joey Mawson (winner, Van Amersfoort Racing): "The team did another great job. Kim got a little closer in the end, and it was not easy to hang on to the lead. But it was enough, fortunately. The reverse starting order will make the third race interesting and tough. I would like to finish in the Top Five. A place in the Top Three would be a dream result, for sure!"
Kim Luis Schramm (Second, US Racing): "I'm happy with second place again. We posted fastest lap, showing that the speed is there. We made a strong charge after the safety car period but didn't quite make it."
Mike David Ortmann (Third, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV): "I'm pleased. We secured a good points haul. I was able to stay in contact with the front-runners while trying to keep Mick and Jannes behind me. That worked out well."
Juan Manuel Correa (Sixth and best Rookie, Prema Powerteam): "It's great to be best rookie. But I'm not quite satisfied yet. I think that a bit more might even have been possible. I'm still at the learning stage, gaining valuable experience in every race."