Big points for Lirim Zendeli (18, Germany, US Racing CHRS) in Race 1 on Saturday. The overall leader in the standings secured vital points in the battle with his rivals for the ADAC Formula 4 championship title. The 18-year-old took a comfortable lights-to-flag win from pole position to secure his eighth race win of the season. As a result, the title contender extended his lead on rival Liam Lawson (16, New Zealand, Van Amersfoort Racing) to 63 points and could clinch the title this weekend. Enzo Fittipaldi (17, Brazil, Prema Theodore Racing), grandson of two-time Formula 1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi, and Frederik Vesti (16, Denmark, Van Amersfoort) completed the party on the podium, coming home behind Zendeli.

“I hope tonight to have a lead of a bit more than 75 points so that I can wrap things up tomorrow provided I can finish in front of Lawson again. Of course, that would be great. To be home and dry would be fantastic,” said Zendeli about the race: “I wouldn’t want to say ahead of the race that I’m going to lift the title, but my situation has become more comfortable.”

David Schumacher (16, Germany, US Racing CHRS) in fourth place narrowly missed out on a podium finish but was best rookie again and secured important points in his battle for the ADAC Formula 4 Rookie Cup.

“I moved straight up from seven to third at the start in a terrific performance, even though I got a bit lucky. But Vesti was quicker than me and I had to let him pass,” said Schumacher after the first race on Saturday.

Pole-sitter Zendeli defended his position at the start and led the field into the first turn. He had pulled out a lead of just under a second after only a couple of laps. Lawson, who was fourth on the grid, lost ground in a start that was action-packed to finish sixth. He attacked Gianluca Petecof (15, Brazil, Prema Theodore Racing) several times in a bid to move up into P5 but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Belgian driver Charles Weerts (17, Belgium, Van Amersfoort Racing) took P7 from Mick Wishofer (18, Austria, US Racing CHRS) and rookie Niklas Krütten (15, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV). Leon Köhler (18, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV) finished tenth.

With five races still remaining and 125 points on the table, Zendeli is now 63 points up on his rival, Lawson and could clinch his first championship title in the ADAC Formula 4 in Sunday’s third race at 9:20 am. Schumacher meanwhile extended his lead in the Rookie classification on rival Krütten to 20 points.

The ADAC Formula 4 drivers will contest their second race of the weekend at the Nürburgring this afternoon at 3:45 pm. SPORT1 will broadcast the ADAC High-Speed Academy’s races live on TV. All races are also available as livestream with English commentary at adac.de/motorsport, on the Facebook page of the ADAC Formula 4 and at youtube.com/adac.