Competing in the latest round of the ADAC German Formula 4 Championship, Pukekohe’s Liam Lawson has come away with a second and 18th placing from two races in support of the Emirates German Formula One Grand Prix at Hockenheim in Germany.
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. 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).
“The race was great and the result too,” commented Lawson. “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.”
In the second race of the weekend, Lawson clashed with Leon Köhler (18, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) in the opening laps which brought the safety car out onto the track. Köhler was forced to retire, and Lawson was obliged to pit during the safety car deployment to have damage to his car repaired. Zendeli’s championship rival then re-joined the field as tail-ender, eventually finishing in 18th overall.
Zendeli celebrated his seventh victory of the campaign and extended his lead at the top of the championship. In front of a huge Formula 1 crowd the 18-year-old crossed the finish line ahead of Oliver Caldwell (16, Great Britain, Prema Theodore Racing) and Enzo Fittipaldi (17, USA/Brazil, Prema Theodore Racing). Best rookie was Jack Doohan (15, Australia, Prema Theodore Racing), the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, who came fourth in the general classification.
This is the first time that ADAC Formula 4 has been staged as part of the support programme on a Formula 1 weekend. The next fixture on the ADAC Formula 4 calendar comes on the weekend of 3rd – 5th August when the juniors of the ADAC High-Speed Academy are once again paired up with the seniors of the ADAC GT Masters.
Points
1 Lirim Zendeli 214
2 Liam Lawson 193
3 Enzo Fittipaldi 150
4 Frederik Vesti 146
5 Mick Wishofer 122
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