Ortmann wins first race at the Sachsenring
Mike David Ortmann (16, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) has won the first of the weekend’s three ADAC Formula 4 races at the Sachsenring. It was the first victory in the junior formula series for the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé. “I’m simply overjoyed,” said Ortmann. “It still hasn’t sunk in. I suppose that only comes later. Things could not have gone better.” In second place was Australia’s Joey Mawson (20, Van Amersfoort Racing), who thereby extended his championship lead to 25 points. Pole-setter Kim Luis Schramm (18, DEU, US Racing) crossed the finish line in third place.
Ortmann overtook Schramm at the start and then retained the lead for the entire distance. While Mawson and Schramm were locked in a battle for second place, the 16-year-old steadily pulled out a gap of more than two seconds. The cushion was negated by a safety car deployment four minutes from the end of the race, but Ortmann nonetheless proceeded to an unchallenged victory. “After the final safety car period, I actually wasn’t worried about it getting tight again,” said the winner afterwards: “I knew that there wouldn’t be another complete lap. So to that extent, the race was in the bag.
Mick Schumacher (17, DEU, Prema Powerteam) finished fourth after starting from second on the grid. The son of record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher was followed across the line by ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Jannes Fittje (16, DEU, US Racing). Fastest rookie on the day was Juan Manuel Correa (16, USA/ECU, Prema Powerteam) who finished sixth overall.
Ortmann also wins second race at the Sachsenring
Mike David Ortmann (16, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) has won the second of three ADAC Formula 4 races at the Sachsenring. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé snatched the lead from Mick Schumacher (17, DEU, Prema Powerteam) shortly before the end of the race after a safety car period. « It’s a great feeling, » said Ortmann after his second victory on the historic track. « I pulled off a neat manoeuvre which I think Mick wasn’t expecting. »
Ortmann and Schumacher were joined on the podium by Australia’s Joey Mawson (20, Van Amersfoort Racing), a result that was enough for him to retain his championship lead. In fourth place was ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Jannes Fittje (16, DEU, US Racing). The best rookie was Nicklas Nielsen (19, DK, Neuhauser Racing) in fifth overall.
Thrilling duels at the front
At the start, Schumacher successfully converted pole position into the race lead and until just before the end looked all set for a lights-to-flag victory. Behind the son of record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher, a battle royal for P2 was taking place between Mawson, Ortmann and Kim Luis Schramm (18, DEU, US Racing), which became slightly less complicated when Schramm retired ten minutes before the end.
Mawson wins third race at Sachsenring after making strong charge
Joey Mawson won the third and final ADAC Formula 4 race at the Sachsenring. The Australian clawed his way up from ninth place to the head of the field. Simo Laaksonen (17, FIN, Motopark) crossed the finish line behind Mawson, followed by the fastest rookie, Nicklas Nielsen (19, DK, Neuhauser Racing). “Taking a win at the Sachsenring is really great,” said Mawson after his third victory of the season: “The fact that I finished the race ahead of my championship rivals is also very important. This was the perfect end to my weekend.”
Mawson’s main rival in the championship, Mick Schumacher (17, DEU, Prema Powerteam), finished fourth ahead of Kim Luis Schramm (18, DEU, US Racing) in temperatures of around 17 degrees. ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann (16, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV), who had won the first two races, finished seventh. He had to start from tenth place on the grid as the winner of the first race.
Mawson draws away from field in overall standings
In a race that remained close as a result of four safety car periods, Mawson clearly demonstrated just why he is at the top of the rankings. The Australian is 35 points clear of Schumacher after six of 24 races this season. In the rookie classification, Nielsen is 40 points up on Juan Manuel Correa (16, USA/ECU, Prema Powerteam).
More than 12,000 spectators came to cheer on the drivers in the three ADAC Formula 4 races at the historic, challenging Hohenstein-Ernstthal circuit. The next three races of the ADAC High-Speed Academy will be staged at the Lausitzring, 3rd-5th June.
Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Press release ADAC Formel 4]]>
