F4 - Tales from the ADAC F4 Zandvoort paddock

23.08.16
Schumacher reduces gap to Mawson to ensure final round showdown in ADAC Formula 4
FIA, Motorsport, Mobility, Road Safety, F1, WRC, WEC, WTCC, World RX

The three races on the circuit in the dunes at Zandvoort last weekend (19-21 August) produced three different winners as the ADAC Formula 4 debuted in the Netherlands. The championship winner was not decided in the Netherlands, so the ADAC Formula 4 title race will remain thrilling right up until the finale at the Hockenheimring (30 September – 2 October).

Championship leader Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing) did actually kick off the weekend with a win but then only managed to pick up just two points in the next two races. Mike David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), on the other hand, enjoyed a 'perfect weekend'. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé had already placed well on Saturday with P2 prior to securing his third victory of the season in the second race.

Lirim Zendeli (16, Germany) also made a tremendous contribution to the excellent record of successes racked up by Team ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. at the weekend. He secured a one-two victory for the Berlin-based outfit by coming home behind Ortmann in Race 2, was best-placed rookie twice and posted best time on Saturday afternoon.

Title contender Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam) achieved podiums for third place twice and took vital points out of former team-mate Mawson, who is on 324 points in the overall standings and ahead of the son of record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher. With three races to go, Schumi Junior (285) is only 39 points adrift. Ortmann (223) is 101 points down on Mawson and is out of contention for second and third place. Kami Laliberté (16, Canada, Van Amersfoort Racing) took his maiden win in the ADAC Formula 4.

Nicklas Nielsen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing, 282) still leads the rookie standings from Juan Manuel Correa (17, USA/Ecuador, Prema Powerteam, 261.5) and Juri Vips (16, Estonia, Prema Powerteam, 243). In the team rankings, Italian Prema Powerteam (390.5) have overtaken Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing (368 points). ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. have a good haul of points (310) but are still behind Kerpen-based outfit US Racing (330) led by Gerhard Ungar and ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher. The 2016 ADAC Formula 4 champion will now be crowned at the season finale at the Hockenheimring (30 September – 2 October).

Best result: Back at the wheel since Spielberg, local driver Janneau Esmeijer (19, Netherlands, Team Timo Scheider) made this the best race weekend ever in the ADAC Formula 4 for Team Timo Scheider in his home race. On the circuit in the dunes, the 19-year-old, who lives in Amsterdam, improved on his tenth place from Race 1 to finish fifth in the second race. Esmeijer is ranked 20th overall in the standings after contesting nine races.

Pushing the boat out: Van Amersfoort Racing, Motopark and Mücke Motorsport had a large contingent of cars and drivers in action at Zandvoort. Van Amersfoort Racing fielded four ADAC Formula 4 racing drivers for their home fixture along with three more in the Masters of Formula 3. Motopark deployed no less than four cars in the Formula 3 event and three single-seaters in the ADAC Formula 4. Mücke Motorsport, who line up in the ADAC Formula under the aegis of the ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V., brought along a Formula 3 car for 2015 ADAC Formula 4 rookie champion and ADAC Sports Foundation protégé, David Beckmann.

Racking up the points: Whether it will be enough in the end remains to be seen, but with three races to go before the finale of the ADAC Formula 4 season at the Hockenheimring, championship leader Joey Mawson has already accrued almost as many points as last year's champion, Marvin Dienst, racked up in total. While Dienst won the first season in 2015 with eight wins and 347 points, the Australian has already secured a whopping 324 points and eight victories in the run-up to the final weekend of the last season. Despite his lead, the 20-year-old from the Sydney area knows he needs to 'keep cool'. The 'Beach Boy' did just that in Zandvoort by venturing into the refreshing waters of the North Sea for a quick dip.

For first time ever: The weather was not always kind to the drivers at the weekend. The third race at Zandvoort had to be stopped before the end following two collisions due to the adverse conditions. For the first time ever, half points only were awarded for the 21st race of the season, since drivers had covered less than 75 percent of the scheduled race distance. 

Zandvoort, Netherlands (19th - 21st August)
 

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3

Winner:

Joey Mawson (AUS)

Mike David Ortmann (GER)

Kami Laliberté (KAN)

Second:

Mike David Ortmann (GER)

Lirim Zendeli (GER)

Jonathan Aberdein (RSA)

Third:

Mick Schumacher (GER)

Mick Schumacher (GER)

Felipe Drugovich (BRA)

Best Rookie:

Lirim Zendeli (GER)

Lirim Zendeli (GER)

Jonathan Aberdein (RSA)

Pole Position:

Joey Mawson (GER)

Mike David Ortmann (GER)

Janneau Esmeijer (NED)

Fastest lap:

Mawson/1:38.962

Zendeli/1:39.591

Sophia Flörsch/2:29.056