ADAC Formula 4: Laaksonen wins to wrap up weekend at Spielberg

• Finnish driver wins from Schumacher and Mawson at Red Bull Ring
• Joey Mawson is now 46 points up on Mick Schumacher
• Races 16, 17 and 18 in two weeks’ time at Nürburgring

Spielberg: Third race at Red Bull Ring, third lights-to-flag victory. Simo Laaksonen (17, Finland, Motopark) won the third race in Austria from pole position, taking his maiden win in the ADAC Formula 4. Local driver Thomas Preining (18, Austria, Lechner Racing) managed a start-finish victory on Saturday and championship leader Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing) achieved the same feat on Sunday morning.

Wrapping up the fifth race weekend of the ADAC High Speed Academy, Laaksonen consigned Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam) and Mawson to second and third place. The two former teammates and the championship contender have drawn further away from each other in the overall standings. Mawson now has 254 points, 46 more than Schumacher, who is currently on 208 points after his seventh podium finish of the season.

“It feels great to finally take my maiden win in the ADAC Formula 4. I’m very happy,” said Laaksonen: “This track is very fast, and I really like that.”

Nicklas Nielsen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) finished fourth and was once again best placed rookie as he came home ahead of Mike David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV). Rookie Juri Vips (15, Estonia, Prema Powerteam), Michael Waldherr (19, Germany, Lechner Racing), Leonard Hoogenboom (16, Netherlands, Van Amersfoort Racing), Luca Engstler (16, Germany, Liqui Moly Team Engstler) and ADAC Sports Foundation protégée Sophia Flörsch (15, Germany, Motopark) completed the Top Ten.

Laaksonen, who secured Motopark’s first win of the season, got off to a good start and pulled out a comfortable lead. Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher, son of record Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, worked his way up from fifth to second place. Laaksonen remained in front even after two safety car periods following the retirement of Kim-Luis Schramm (19, Germany, US Racing) and rookie Yannik Brandt (15, Germany, Lechner Racing).

Ortmann was initially behind the leading pair of drivers but both Mawson and Nielsen overtook with two laps to go. Rookie Nielsen, who placed third in this morning’s second race, attacked the Australian racing in front of him until the very end, but the 20-year-old hung on to his eleventh podium in this 15th race of the season.

Racing continues for the ADAC Formula 4 drivers in two weeks’ time when they head to the Nürburgring (5th - 7th August) to contest races 16, 17 and 18 on the historic circuit in the Eifel.

More comments from the ADAC Formula 4:

Simo Laaksonen (Winner, Motopark): “It was a tough race. Mick attacked me continually right to the end, but I managed to defend the lead. In the end, I had to force myself to stay calm and collected. I’m happy that it worked out and am looking forward to the Nürburgring.”

Joey Mawson (third, Van Amersfoort Racing): “I’m pleased overall with my podium, as overtaking was really difficult. By the time I’d passed Mike David, there were not many laps left to attack the front-runners. The weekend was altogether excellent. We were able to extend our lead on Mick a little.”

Nicklas Nielsen (fourth and best-placed rookie, Neuhauser Racing): “I’m very happy with this weekend and especially with our pace here. A little more might even have been possible today, but I lost a few places early on after making a mistake. After that, I found it difficult to connect again with the front-runners. I battled with Joey for third place on the last lap, but he got the better of me in the end.”