Danish youngster Frederik Vesti (16, Van Amersfoort Racing) displayed nerves of steel to claim his first win of the season and make the perfect start to a weekend on which ADAC Formula 4 shares the billing with Formula 1. The Emirates German Grand Prix is being contested at Hockenheim, and it was Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Director Toto Wolff who presented the trophies. The 16-year-old won Race 1 late on Saturday afternoon ahead of Liam Lawson (16, New Zealand, Van Amersfoort Racing) and current championship leader Lirim Zendeli (18, Germany, US Racing CHRS).
"That was great," said Vesti, delighted to be at last standing on the top rung of the podium after having to settle for the runner-up spot on three previous occasions. "It was a special victory for me. Just take a look around, and you will see so many fantastic drivers and teams here. Tomorrow too, anything is possible from fourth on the grid."
In this fourth race of the season at Hockenheim, 18-year-old Zendeli from Bochum once again finished on the podium and still has a 21-point lead over closest pursuer Lawson. Best Rookie was David Schumacher (16, Germany, US Racing CHRS) in fifth place. It was enough for the son of former Formula 1 and DTM driver Ralf Schumacher to move back into the lead in the rookie classification. "That feels great, no question about it," said Schumacher. "It was a super race, and I'm obviously satisfied with the result."
Fourth in the general classification was Enzo Fittipaldi (17, Brazil/USA, Prema Theodore Racing) followed by David Schumacher, rookie Gianluca Petecof (15, Brazil, Prema Theodore Racing), Federico Malvestiti (18, Italy, Jenzer Motorsport), Charles Weerts (17, Belgium, Van Amersfoort Racing), rookie Joey Alders (18, Netherlands, Van Amersfoort Racing) and Lucas Alecco Roy (21, Monaco, Van Amersfoort Racing).
Vesti got off to a strong start and asserted his lead over the first few metres. Forming up in a convoy behind were Lawson, Zendeli and Schumacher.
Two minutes later, the safety car was sent out onto the track after Niklas Krütten (15, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), who had previously been leading the rookie championship, spun off the track. When the restart came four minutes later, Vesti kept his nerve and defended the lead. Behind him, a major battle developed between Lawson and Zendeli, which allowed the race leader to open up a comfortable gap.
Fittipaldi meanwhile worked his way through the field, overtook Schumacher and embarked on a pursuit of the Lawson-Zendeli duo. The New Zealander mounted a stern defence against the persistent challenge form Zendeli and retained second place through to the chequered flag. Fittipaldi was ultimately unable to get close enough to Zendeli to put him under any real pressure. Schumacher finished a comfortable fifth.
This is the first time that ADAC Formula 4 has been staged as part of the support programme on a Formula 1 weekend. It is a magnificent backdrop against which the talented juniors of the ADAC High-Speed Academy have an opportunity to showcase their potential. They will be back in action again on Sunday morning at 10:10 CEST for the second of only two races on this occasion. Lawson will start from pole ahead of Zendeli and Schumacher.
Further comments on the ADAC Formula 4 race
Liam Lawson (second, Van Amersfoort Racing):
"The race was great and the result too. We wanted to finish ahead of Zendeli, and we managed to do that. The deficit has therefore been marginally reduced again. It was tough out there, because I had to defend my position intensively. To deliver such a race against this backdrop is like a dream. Formula 1 is the greatest."
Lirim Zendeli (third, US Racing CHRS):
"Toto Wolff presented me with the trophy and shook my hand - that's a great feeling. It's not every day that you meet such a famous and important person, but it's something I could happily get used to. The pace was definitely there in the race, but it was simply not possible to get past Lawson. Tomorrow, I have to see that I do precisely that, and then I just have to stay ahead."
David Schumacher (Best Rookie, US Racing CHRS):
"I made one or two mistakes and lost touch with the leaders. All the same, though, I've scored some important points. I feel extremely sorry for Niklas. Everyone has bad luck from time to time. It's just part and parcel of racing."