Andreas and Sebastian Estner: First brothers ever to race in the ADAC Formula 4

• Andreas, the mentor with title ambitions – Sebastian, the speedy rookie
• The Estner brothers race for Neuhauser Racing
• Special incentive: “Obviously, to always be quicker than your brother!”

Munich: When the two Estner brothers begin to talk about their big passion, their eyes immediately light up. Motorsport, as Andreas and Sebastian Estner will tell you time and again, dominates their lives and has done ever since childhood. They used to compete in karting, but today, Andreas (17) and his younger sibling, Sebastian (16) from Warngau to the south of Munich, line up in the ADAC Formula 4 with Neuhauser Racing. And so, the two Estners have made a little bit of history as the first two brothers ever to race in the ADAC high-speed school.

“Of course, we’re well aware of that and know it’s never happened before. Still, it’s definitely quite something,” says Andreas, now in his third season this year and helping his brother with advice and practical support: “It’s something very special to compete in the same team as your brother. You have way more to talk about and are in a lot better position to help each other. You act a bit differently than you would with another team-mate – and you may even keep one or two secrets to yourself!”

While Andreas may already be planning to take his next steps in motorsport, Sebastian has just recently contested his first ever single-seater race at Oschersleben where he scored two points. The 16-year-old is a rookie and wants to learn from his brother’s experiences. “It’s great for me to be in the same team as Andreas. We talk about it a fair bit. It’s much easier to ask your brother than a team-mate you don’t know,” says Sebastian:” He tells me where the braking points are, gives me driving tips and suggestions about how
I can maybe improve my starts.”

Behind this show of cohesion and togetherness lurks a special motivation, naturally. “You obviously always want to be faster than your brother,” says Sebastian with a chuckle, and Andreas replies: “Of course, I aim to prevent that, and so far, it’s been going quite well. But let’s wait and see how things stand at the end of the season!”

The opening meeting at Oschersleben had its ups and downs for the two of them. Andreas finished fifth in the second race and collected ten points but retired from the last race just before the end while in a points-scoring position. Sebastian finished Race 2 in P9. As a rookie, he is in competition with a number of other drivers in the Junior classification, including Ralf Schumacher’s son, David. Racing will continue for the two boys soon at Hockenheim, 4th - 6th May, when the second ADAC Formula 4 race weekend gets underway under the banner of the DTM.

While Sebastian wants to develop gradually and still has to familiarise himself with all the circuits, Andreas already has very ambitious goals and clear ideas. “A place in the Top Three at least,” is where he wants to be: “That will obviously be difficult to achieve, because the opposition is very strong. But they are not unbeatable, and we intend to go for it.” The two brothers put their goals above everything else. They train a lot and work both physically and mentally so as to be perfectly prepared. Andreas is currently in the middle of exam revision, as school-leaving examinations are on their way in his home state of Bavaria. “So, I’ve always got my books with me at the racetrack,” he says with a smile.

Andreas had already raced for Neuhauser Racing in 2017 and found the idea of being in the same team as his brother quite appealing, which is what made him stay for another season with Hannes Neuhauser. “That was the determining factor, for sure!” he says, and his 16-year-old brother Sebastian concluded with: “Hannes gives us tips. He used to compete himself so knows what it feels like. It’s a terrific first team for me!”