Roman Stanek didn't even realise that he already had the 2019 ADAC Formula 4 Best Rookie title in the bag. "I only discovered that after the podium ceremony," says the 15-year-old with a chuckle, "but of course I'm absolutely delighted." With the final weekend of the ADAC High-Speed Academy still to be contested, the first of the three titles in 2019 has already been decided: it goes to Roman Stanek who drives for US Racing CHRS, the team owned and managed by Gerhard Ungar and Ralf Schumacher.

Stanek has pulled out an 86-point gap on his closest rival, Paul Aron from Estonia. It is a big enough cushion to ensure that Stanek cannot be overtaken on the final weekend at the Sachsenring (27th 29th September). "The rookie title has been my goal right from the start," says the Czech teenager, who even has an outside mathematical chance of coming out on top in the main drivers' championship. "But I didn't want to just be seen as an outstanding rookie; I also wanted to be competing as far forward as possible in the overall standings."

Stanek showed that he has what it takes to win in ADAC Formula 4 right at the start of the season. In late April at Oschersleben, he delivered an absolutely flawless race to record a comfortable lights-to-flag victory. In doing so, he revealed one of his major strengths - a cool head. "I can focus on the moment, and when I'm in the car on the track, I blank out everything around me," he explains.

This characteristic was again very much on show during the standout fixture on the calendar, the weekend when ADAC Formula 4 shared the billing with Formula 1 at Hockenheim. "Sure, there were a lot of fans and, of course, many famous and influential people watching," says Stanek, "but in the car, I fully concentrate on the job in hand. I hardly notice anything that is going on around me."

This unflustered approach has already served the 15-year-old in good stead. He can look back on two wins and three P2 finishes in his first ever season in single-seater racing. Before that, he had spent many years in karting. His first outing in a kart came as a six-year-old, but the hobby only became more serious in 2014 when Roman Stanek was ten years old. From that point on, there were regular training sessions and races, with the first successes not long in coming. In 2016, he went to Italy where the training conditions would be even better. "Whenever I do anything, I make sure I do it right," says Stanek.

So this year's project was the switch from kart to formula car - and it has clearly worked out very well. Stanek not only competed in the German ADAC Formula 4 but also in the Italian equivalent where he has already shown himself to be one of the most promising young drivers.

Roman Stanek does not yet know where his career path might take him. Of course, there is always the hope of one day graduating to Formula 1, the premier class. But the Czech teenager wants to take it one step at a time and think carefully at every stage: "I really don't like standing still. I'm always happiest when there's something going on around me. I'm currently enjoying my time in the ADAC Formula 4, and we'll see what comes next."

Before Stanek can get down to planning his future, he still has one final weekend in the ADAC Formula 4 to get through. The Sachsenring will be hosting the series at the end of the month, and he obviously wants to present himself in the best possible light. "A successful weekend at the Sachsenring would be a great way to round off the season," says Stanek, who is currently fourth in the standings. The two main contenders Théo Pourchaire and Dennis Hauger are already more than 40 points ahead, but Arthur Leclerc has a 'mere' 17 point lead and is still very much within reach.

"My objective is to drive as well as possible on the final weekend and to make progress in the championship," says Stanek. But even if he doesn't quite manage to climb any further up the table, the Czech youngster has definitely got himself noticed: no rookie in ADAC Formula 4 history has been higher placed in the general classification.