Joey Mawson: "It still hasn't sunk in"

• The 2016 ADAC Formula 4 champion: "I wanted to finish every race on the podium"
• Next stop Formula 3? "This is clearly what I'm aiming for"
• Mawson: "Mick and I enjoyed battling it out on the track"

Munich. The second season of ADAC Formula 4 has come to a close. But newly crowned champion Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing) still hasn't quite realised the magnitude of his achievement. "I haven't had enough time for it all to sink in," says the Australian. Next season, the 20-year-old intends to make the step up to Formula 3. Last weekend, he made his debut in the British Formula 3 series, finishing well towards the front in all three races.

Joey, a few days have now passed since the final races of the season at Hockenheim. Have you come to terms yet with what has been achieved?
Joey Mawson: "Not really. I've been very busy travelling around. I only realise it when people talk to me about the subject or I read about it in the media. Every time, I think: Wow, we actually did it!"

What was the key to your success?
Joey Mawson: "The crucial thing from my point of view was to take each race as it comes. I wanted to get the maximum out of every race, to finish on the podium and to score points. In the circumstances, my sponsors at Podium are perfectly named. The support I receive from Podium is incredibly important to me - without it, I wouldn't be able to race. I wanted to be competitive in the title challenge this season, but I wasn't necessarily expecting to become champion. I did want to be a contender, though."

You've just completed your second year in ADAC Formula 4. What have you learnt during this time? What are the best features of the ADAC Formula 4 series?
Joey Mawson: "I've learnt how to perform more consistently and to drive at a high level. I've learnt how to focus on the essentials, namely on winning. The good thing about ADAC Formula 4 is definitely the high level. There are often 20 or more contestants within one second of each other. As far as I can see, you don't get that in any other Formula 4 series, so for that reason I consider ADAC Formula 4 to be the strongest series in its class. But there is also the minor drawback that the tight competition results in a lot of collisions, so the safety car deployments are frequent."

Let's take another look at this past year and at the defining contest between you and Mick Schumacher who finished as championship runner-up. Was this contest a factor that made you even stronger?
Joey Mawson: "Mick and I were team-mates in the previous year - that's how we got to know each other. I believe we both enjoyed this rivalry very much. But I also tried to detach myself from it. In the races, I treated him like any other driver; I want to stay focused, no matter who I'm up against. If we both enter the same series next year, I'm sure the contest will continue at the next level up."

This year, a lot of observers were already tipping you as a likely contender. How did you manage to deal with the pressure?
Joey Mawson: "I finished the previous season in third place, so yes there was some pressure. But I just took each race as it came and didn't allow the pressure to get to me."

Your predecessor, Marvin Dienst, now competes in the ADAC GT Masters. Joel Erikson, who finished second in 2015, is competing in Formula 3. Where can we expect to see you in the coming year? Which series have you got your eye on, and why?
Joey Mawson: "I want to get into Formula 3, because it is so enjoyable being part of the Van Amersfoort setup. I would like to continue with them. But obviously we're also looking at other series. Let's see what happens."

One final question... Please complete this sentence: In three years, it is my dream...
Joey Mawson: "... to be celebrating my next championship title."