Mick Schumacher (Prema Powerteam) secured pole position for the first ADAC Formula 4 race at the Nürburgring. The son of German record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher posted a 1:27.129, the fastest time of any driver in the two groups that took part in qualifying and will line up in the race on Saturday afternoon (live on SPORT1 and SPORT1+ 14:50) in front of ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike 
David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) and championship leader Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing). “I’m pleased that it went so well, as practice yesterday was only fair to middling. We now have to concentrate fully on the races today and tomorrow,” said Schumacher.
As the best-placed of the five rookies who qualified in the Top Ten, Nicklas Nielsen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) will line up in fourth position on the grid. Rookies Juri Vips (15, Estonia, Prema Powerteam) and Richard Verschoor (15, Netherlands, Motopark) will share the row behind him. Thomas Preining (18, Austria, Lechner Racing) will be in P7, followed by three more rookies, Juan Manuel Correa (16, USA, Ecuador, Prema Powerteam), Simo Laaksonen (17, Finland, Motopark) and Felipe Drugovich (16, Brazil, Neuhauser Racing).
As regards second-best times which decide the grid order for the second race on Sunday (live on SPORT1 and SPORT1+ at 10.30), Australian championship leader Mawson was in front with a 1:27.185. Ortmann and Mawson’s championship rival Schumacher will line up behind the 20-year-old, followed by Correa, Vips, Nielsen, Preining, Verschoor, Laaksonen and Drugovich. Grid positions for the 18th race of the season on Sunday afternoon (live on SPORT1+ at 14:50) will be determined by the result of the first race. The Top Ten will start in reverse order. Mawson on 254 points currently heads the overall standings. Schumacher has 208 to his name. Ortmann on 157 points is in third place.
“We can be pleased overall with qualifying. It’s just a pity that Mick caught me in the end. It’s always good for us and for the fans when Mick and I line up so close together. It’s certainly going to be an excellent, exciting race,” said Joey Mawson. “There are still plenty of points to win and lose this season. It looks like it’s going to be just me and Mick battling it out to the end.”
Redazione MotoriNoLimits
