In the initial skirmishes between championship contenders Joey Mawson and Mick Schumacher, the Australian has the edge. ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann is running third.

Rookie Nicklas Nielsen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) was the first to put his name at the top of the timesheets in the season finale of the 2016 ADAC Formula 4 at Hockenheim. In the first free practice session on Friday morning, the 19-year-old went fastest with a time of 01:40.595 minutes, just ahead of championship contender Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing) and ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.).

Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam), who is the only other contestant able to deny his former team-mate Mawson the title, was tenth fastest in this first trial of strength.

Completing the Top Ten behind Ortmann were Simo Laaksonen (18, Finland, Motopark), Michael Waldherr (20, Germany, Motopark), ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Jannes Fittje (17, Germany, US Racing), Moritz Müller-Crepon (19, Switzerland, Van Amersfoort Racing), rookie Lirim Zendeli (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) and Louis Gachot (17, Great Britain, US Racing).

The youngsters of the ADAC High Speed Academy will be back out on track at 10:45 CEST for the second free practice session. Qualifying takes place at 13:55 and, as usual, will be organised in two groups. The last three races of the 2016 championship are being held this weekend. Going into the finals, Joey Mawson has a 39-point lead over Mick Schumacher. Germany's biggest dedicated sports channel, SPORT1, will show all three races from Hockenheim live.