The New Zealander dominates qualifying at Spielberg.
New Zealander Marcus Armstrong (16, Prema Powerteam) dominated the ADAC Formula 4 qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, securing pole position in the first two races. The 16-year-old posted the fastest lap of the session with a 1:29.954 minutes and was also ahead where the second-best lap times are concerned which decide grid slots for the race on Sunday morning at 10.05am. SPORT1 and SPORT1+ will broadcast all of this weekend’s racing both live and as recordings. A livestream will also be available at www.SPORT1.de and www.adac.de/motorsport, as usual.
“Of course, I always want to be on pole. It’s just great that I’ve managed to do it twice today,” said Marcus Armstrong, who is racing for the first time at the Red Bull Ring. “The circuit suits me and is great fun. I’m really pleased with the car and the team – now we want to go out and win the race. We’ve got the pace and feel confident!”
Michael Waldherr (20, Germany) will line up behind Armstrong for Austrian Team Neuhauser Racing in the first race on Saturday afternoon. He took second place from Jonathan Aberdein (19, South Africa, Motopark) and Felipe Drugovich (17, Brazil, Van Amersfoort Racing) with his final lap.
“I can’t complain. If you qualify second, then of course, your goal is to finish up there in the race,” said Michael Waldherr. “We’ll soon see whether that’s possible. Other factors play a role – but it’s definitely a realistic goal. The speed is there, and provided I don’t make any big mistakes in the race, then it might even be possible to do something with P1.”
Armstrong’s team-mate Juan Manuel Correa (17, USA, Ecuador) finished fifth ahead of Kami Laliberté (17, Canada, Van Amersfoort Racing) and the championship leader Juri Vips (16, Estonia, Van Amersfoort Racing).
Rookie champion Nicklas Nielsen (20, Denmark, US Racing), guest starter Lorenzo Colombo (16, Italy, Bhaitech Racing) and Julian Hanses (19, Germany, US Racing) completed the Top Ten. Laurin Heinrich (15, Germany, Team Laurin Heinrich) was best rookie in P22, while Mick Wishofer (17, Lechner Racing), the only Austrian in the ADAC Formula 4 field, booked grid position 24.
Aberdein, Nielsen, Drugovich, Correa, Vips, Waldherr, Laliberté, Colombo and Fabio Scherer (17, Switzerland, US Racing) will line up behind Armstrong in the second race at the Red Bull Ring.
The result of the first race will decide positions on the grid for the third race on Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm. The Top Ten from the first race will line up in reverse order with the winner in P10 on the grid and the tenth-placed driver on pole. There have been six different winners in this season’s previous six ADAC Formula 4 races.
