Joey Mawson back to winning ways in ADAC Formula 4 at Oschersleben

• Van Amersfoort driver extends championship lead
• Thomas Preining and Mick Schumacher also on the podium
• Live coverage on Sunday of Races 2 and 3 on SPORT1

Oschersleben: Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing) has won the tenth round of the 2016 ADAC Formula 4 in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. The Australian took the chequered flag ahead of pole-setter Thomas Preining (17, Austria, Lechner Racing) and Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam). “We have such a great car,” said Mawson after his win. “From my perspective, it was a perfect race with some wonderful overtaking.” Second-placed Preining was equally pleased with his best performance so far this season: “After the pole position and today’s P2, I’m optimistic and full of confidence about the two races tomorrow. There is still room for improvement.” SPORT1 will be broadcasting races two and three from Oschersleben live from 09:30 and 17:00 respectively.

Felipe Drugovich (16, Brazil, Neuhauser Racing) came fourth, which takes him into the lead in the rookie standings. “That was my best result so far in ADAC Formula 4,” said the young Brazilian with evident delight. “Furthermore, I now lead the rookie standings. I also have the long-term objective of finishing on the podium in the general classification. We’ll be working even harder to achieve that.” In fifth and sixth positions were Schumacher’s team-mate Juan Manuel Correa (16, USA/Ecuador, Prema Powerteam) and ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.).

Exciting battle at the front

The race was briefly halted following a multi-vehicle pile-up on the first corner and subsequently restarted behind the safety car. There then ensued a close-fought battle for the lead. Having started from third on the grid, Mawson overtook Schumacher on the second lap and eventually got past Preining in a spectacular move four and a half minutes before the end.

Kim-Luis Schramm (18, Germany, US Racing) crossed the finish line in tenth and therefore qualifies for pole position in the third race on Sunday (live on SPORT1 from 17:00). In grid positions two and three will be Leonard Hoogenboom (16, Netherlands, Van Amersfoort Racing) and Jonathan Aberdein (18, South Africa, Motopark). This is because the starting order for the third race is determined by the result of the first race, with the Top Ten lining up in reverse order.

Mawson and Schumacher on front row in Race 2

Mawson, who had won the first two races in the season opener at Oschersleben, has thus increased his lead in the overall standings over second-placed Schumacher to 13 points. In the second race on Sunday (09:30, live on SPORT1), the two main contenders start alongside each other on the front row, with Mawson on pole position. Mike David Ortmann is currently third in the championship on 108 points, 56 behind Schumacher.

Further comments on the ADAC Formula 4 race:

Joey Mawson (winner, Van Amersfoort Racing): “Oschersleben seems to be a special place for us. Hopefully we can register our next victory tomorrow. That’s our objective.”

Thomas Preining (second, Lechner Racing): “I got off to a good start and immediately pulled out a gap in the early stage of the race. But then I was thwarted by my fading tyres which got worse and worse towards the end. I had conserved my two new tyres for tomorrow – a decision that I took rather than the team boss. In the circumstances, I’m happy with second place.”

Felipe Drugovich (Best Rookie, Neuhauser Racing): “My race was good – better in the early stages than towards the end when I had a few problems with the tyres and the chasing pack were getting closer. But I managed to hang on to fourth place.”