- Zendeli 0.002 seconds up on Felipe Drugovich
- Title contenders Vips and Armstrong book P6 and P13 respectively
- Drugovich on pole in second race
Nürburgring: 0.002 seconds up. Lirim Zendeli (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV) secured pole position for the first ADAC Formula 4 race at the Nürburgring. The 17-year-old, who had already set best time on the day on Friday in practice, posted the fastest lap time of 1:27.601 minutes - championship runner-up Felipe Drugovich (17, Brazil, Van Amersfoort Racing) was only two thousandths of a second slower in second place. SPORT1 will broadcast the 13th race of the season to be staged by the ADAC high-speed school this afternoon at 2:45pm. Live streams will also be available at www.adac.de/motorsport, www.sport1.de and www.youtube.com/adac.
"I was 20th in first practice and then suddenly first in FP2. You never know how you should feel, and hope that qualifying will also turn out like that," said Zendeli after taking his maiden pole position in the ADAC Formula 4. The races here are not too far from home, so some friends have stopped by to watch, which makes it all the more satisfying to be able to line up in P1. I made it up the field from the very back to the very front and can start the races without any pressure. I've never raced here in the rain before, so I'd rather it was dry for this afternoon's race."
Jonathan Aberdein (19, South Africa, Motopark), Kim-Luis Schramm (20, Germany, US Racing) and Andreas Estner (17, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) placed third, fourth and fifth respectively. Title contender Juri Vips (16, Estonia, Prema Powerteam), who is in the lead overall in the run-up to the races here in the Eifel, will start the first race from sixth place. The two US Racing drivers, Julian Hanses (19, Germany) and Fabio Scherer (18, Switzerland) will be on the fourth row. Enzo Fittipaldi (16, Brazil, Prema Powerteam) and Sophia Flörsch (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV) complete the Top Ten. Marcus Armstrong (17, New Zealand, Prema Powerteam), who is third in the championship standings, booked P13.
Felipe Drugovich will be on pole in the second race on Sunday at 11.10am. He had the edge as regards the second-best times that decide positions in this race. Lirim Zendeli, Andreas Estner, Julian Hanses, Juri Vips, Enzo Fittipaldi, Jonathan Aberdein, Kim-Luis Schramm, Fabio Scherer and Marcus Armstrong will be behind the Brazilian on the grid, lining up in positions 2-10.
"Qualifying went very well. My times were fairly consistent, so I'm very satisfied," said Felipe Drugovich: "It was almost enough for pole in the first race. Now it's all about the races. I'll take things step by step, and I'd obviously like to finish on the podium now as well."
The fifth ADAC Formula 4 race weekend will end with the third race on Sunday at 4.35pm. The result of the first race will determine the order on the grid for this round. The Top Ten will then start in reverse order.