ADAC Formula 4: Mawson wins third race at Sachsenring after making strong charge

• The Australian extends lead in overall standings
• Laaksonen and Nielsen on podium
• Schumacher fourth

Hohenstein-Ernstthal: Joey Mawson won the third and final ADAC Formula 4 race at the Sachsenring. The Australian clawed his way up from ninth place to the head of the field. Simo Laaksonen (17, FIN, Motopark) crossed the finish line behind Mawson, followed by the fastest rookie, Nicklas Nielsen (19, DK, Neuhauser Racing). “Taking a win at the Sachsenring is really great,” said Mawson after his third victory of the season: “The fact that I finished the race ahead of my championship rivals is also very important. This was the perfect end to my weekend.”

Mawson’s main rival in the championship, Mick Schumacher (17, DEU, Prema Powerteam), finished fourth ahead of Kim Luis Schramm (18, DEU, US Racing) in temperatures of around 17 degrees. ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann (16, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV), who had won the first two races, finished seventh. He had to start from tenth place on the grid as the winner of the first race.

Mawson draws away from field in overall standings

In a race that remained close as a result of four safety car periods, Mawson clearly demonstrated just why he is at the top of the rankings. The Australian is 35 points clear of Schumacher after six of 24 races this season. In the rookie classification, Nielsen is 40 points up on Juan Manuel Correa (16, USA/ECU, Prema Powerteam).

More than 12,000 spectators came to cheer on the drivers in the three ADAC Formula 4 races at the historic, challenging Hohenstein-Ernstthal circuit. The next three races of the ADAC High-Speed Academy will be staged at the Lausitzring, 3rd-5th June.

More comments from the ADAC Formula 4:

Joey Mawson (winner, Van Amersfoort Racing): “I’m pleased that I’ve secured plenty of points towards the championship by notching up another win. My family in Australia will, no doubt, have been watching the races as live streaming. I get a lot of support from home, via Facebook and Twitter. Since I’ll be spending the whole year in Europe and won’t return to Australia until December, I’ll pass the time until the next race weekend at the Lausitzring getting prepared and doing more testing.”

Simo Laaksonen (second, Motopark): “The race went very well to begin with. I was even in the lead for a time. Unfortunately, I was overtaken after I made a small mistake. That was a bit disappointing, but it’s a good result overall.”

Nicklas Nielsen (third and best Rookie, Neuhauser Racing): “I’m very happy with the result. I desperately wanted to finish on the podium and am very pleased that it worked out. There were so many safety car periods, unfortunately, because the pace was excellent. I might even have finished second. Still, I’m very satisfied overall. We’re now going testing at the Lausitzring, so that I can get to know the circuit.”