Having started from fifth on the grid, Dennis Hauger (16, Norway, Van Amersfoort Racing) stormed through to claim a second win of the 2019 season in the first race of the ADAC Formula 4 weekend, which this time shares the billing with Formula 1 at the Hockenheimring. The Norwegian came out on top in an exciting seventh race of the campaign ahead of Théo Pourchaire (16, France, US Racing CHRS) and Gianluca Petecof (16, Brazil, Prema Powerteam). Best Rookie was Jonny Edgar (15, Great Britain, Van Amersfoort Racing), who finished ninth overall. The four contestants on the podium received their trophies from FIA President Jean Todt, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Director Toto Wolff and ADAC Sports President Hermann Tomczyk.
"Going from fifth to first place is a perfect result," said Hauger after receiving his award from Jean Todt. "I am extremely happy. My pace was superb, and I cannot wait to get back in the cockpit tomorrow. That was great. The atmosphere here is truly legendary. It was a great honour for me."
Positions four to ten went to Michael Belov (17, Russia, R-ace GP), Giorgio Carrara (18, Argentina, Jenzer Motorsport), Ido Cohen (17, Israel, Van Amersfoort Racing), Oliver Rasmussen (18, Denmark, Prema Powerteam), Lucas Alecco Roy (22, Germany, Van Amersfoort Racing), Edgar, and Arthur Leclerc (18, Monaco, US Racing CHRS), brother of Formula 1 shooting star Charles Leclerc.
Pourchaire's P2 finish was enough to give him the sole lead in the championship on 87 points: "Today's race was tough, and P2 was the maximum we were going to get out of it. I'm extremely happy with the result and I will obviously be aiming to defend my lead in the standings." He was handed his trophy by Toto Wolff, the motorsport director of Mercedes-AMG. Niklas Krütten (16, Trier, Van Amersfoort Racing), who had been joint leader with Pourchaire before the race, had to retire after being involved in a collision with Hauger and failed to score any points.
Krütten had actually got off to a brilliant start, getting past pole-sitter Pourchaire on the first lap. His team-mate Hauger, the fastest driver in free practice, also soon got past the French teenager and from then on was locked in a tense battle for position with Krütten. At one point, Hauger slid off the track at the hairpin, allowing Pourchaire to regain second place. Undeterred, Hauger pounced on a small error from Pourchaire and then quickly closed the gap to Krütten.
In the final phase of the race, there was a contact between the two team-mates. As Hauger went for the pass on the outside, Krütten's left front wheel touched the right rear wheel of the Norwegian. The youngster from Trier spun off the track into a barrier and was unable to continue the race. The safety car was deployed for the recovery of Krütten's car, and when the race was restarted, only one lap remained. And what a lap it was! While Hauger and Pourchaire had everything under control at the front, Petecof had to defend himself against Leclerc. At first, Leclerc had the advantage, but when he came under attack from the Brazilian, he spun off track and dropped back to tenth place.
"It was an exciting scrap at the end with Arthur, in which I came off best," said a delighted Petecof after being handed the trophy for third place by ADAC Sports President Hermann Tomczyk. "We've been having some problems with pace all weekend. In the circumstances, we've got the maximum out of today's race, and I'm very happy about that. Tomorrow, I'll be aiming to get back on the podium. If possible, one or two rungs higher."
The second of two ADAC Formula 4 races on Sunday (10:25 CEST) will again be shown live on SPORT1 and SPORT1+. It can also be followed online via the livestream on adac.de/motorsport, SPORT1.de and on the Facebook page of the ADAC Formula 4.
Arthur Leclerc will be in pole position for Round 8 of the campaign, followed by Dennis Hauger and Théo Pourchaire. Niklas Krütten starts from fifth place behind rookie Roman Stanek (15, Czech Republic, US Racing CHRS).