Schumacher takes the win at the Lausitzring from Laliberté and PreiningBrazilian Drugovich in fifth place is best rookieHoogenboom finishes tenth and will be on pole in the third race
Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam) achieved his second win of the season in the first of three races in the ADAC Formula 4 at the Motorsport Festival Lausitzring. Starting from pole position, the son of German record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher took the win from Kami Laliberté (16, Canada, Van Amersfoort Racing) and Thomas Preining (17, Austria, Lechner Racing). Following a collision on the first lap when ten drivers were forced to retire, the race was stopped for 19 minutes and then continued for ten laps. "The race was a bit short - but obviously, it's still a great start to the weekend with two pole positions and a win," said Mick Schumacher, and added, thinking ahead to the second race: "This is the best motivation for all of us for this afternoon." SPORT1 will broadcast the second ADAC Formula 4 race live on Saturday at 17.30. There were contacts on the first lap between several vehicles in the midfield in the first race on Saturday afternoon. Ten drivers retired in the ensuing collision. After 19 minutes stoppage time, the restart took place behind the safety car with eleven minutes remaining on the clock. After the restart, Schumacher quickly drew away a couple of metres and maintained his top position. Laliberté, who achieved his maiden podium this year, held on to second place. Behind him, Preining launched an overtaking manouevre on Jannes Fittje (16, Germany, US Racing) as they raced down the main straight and got the drop on the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé with a few laps to go. Fittje finished fourth ahead of the best-placed rookie, Felipe Drugovich (15, Brazil, Neuhauser Racing) and the overall leader in the championship standings, Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing). Another rookie - Juri Vips (15, Estonia, Prema Powerteam), came home in seventh place, finishing ahead of Kim-Luis Schramm (18, Germany, US Racing), Mike David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) and Leonard Hoogenboom (16, Netherlands, RS Competition). So, Hoogenboom will start from pole position ahead of local driver Ortmann and Schramm in the third race on Sunday (visit adac.de/formel-4 for livestream, starting at 17:55). The grid for this race is determined by the result of the first race. The Top Ten will line up in reverse order. Schumacher will therefore start from tenth position on the grid. The second race of the weekend at the Lausitzring will follow early this Saturday evening (at 17:40, live on SPORT1). Schumacher, who is still in second place overall in the standings, will again be on pole in this race. The Australian Mawson will be in second place on the grid, followed by Jannes Fittje. Further comments from the ADAC Formula 4 competitors: Kami Laliberté (second, Van Amersfoort Racing): "I'm happy with second position. We successfully defended our grid position. I had a few problems at the start and at the restart, and I also made some mistakes. But apart from that, the race was error-free. Although Preining got close, I managed to maintain the gap." Thomas Preining (third, Lechner Racing): "I'm obviously very satisfied, because we had a really difficult weekend at the Sachsenring. So of course, it's good to come back in this way. After the restart, the race went very well. I succeeded in battling my way forward to third position and was even in striking distance of second. But any overtaking move would have been too risky. For that reason, I had to keep pushing and wait for Kami to make a mistake. But he didn't make any and he drove really well." Felipe Drugovich (Best Rookie, Neuhauser Racing): "P5 and best rookie! That's a superb result - I'm totally satisfied. I'd like to score more points in the other two races this weekend."
