ADAC Formula 4 championship leader Joey Mawson managed the gap to claim another victory around the Red Bull Ring. The van Amersfoort Racing driver broke away from pole only finding himself under pressure after a safety car period.
Mawson immediately moved across to block Thomas Preining with the two braking away from the pack. Sadly, it didn’t last long as Preining ran wide at the final turn, hitting the barrier.
Behind them, a large pack jossled for position. Jannes Fittje had made the best start but was immediately under pressure from Kami Laliberte. The Prema Powerteam drivers of Juri Vips and Juan Manuel Correa also joined the carnage as Laliberte was edged wide by the field.
The Canadian broke his wing on the kerb allowing Kim-Luis Schramm to keep out of trouble and snatch second as the safety car was deployed. Preining’s car needed to be removed, while Laliberte and Correa recovered to the pits with damage.
Mawson continued to lead from Schramm with the safety car pulling in. Vips, Mike Ortmann and Fittje fed in behind. Further back, Leonard Hoogenboom made the strongest start, challenging Fittje for fifth. His challenge was soon brought to an end though, after he was punished for a jump start.
After Nicklas Neilsen had worked his way up to fifth ahead of Fittje, the top five broke away. The field soon settled down with the exception of Carrie Schreiner who was spun on the exit of turn three.
Mick Schumacher spent the race working his way through the field, avoiding issues. He made it close to the top ten, but was only able to finish eleventh after starting 33rd.
Back at the front, Mawson had long since sprinted into the distance. The battle for second continued as Ortmann dove up the inside of Schramm forcing the US Racing driver to defend from Vips and Neilsen, the latter of which finally made it to third.
As the minutes counted down, Mawson cruised to the line, scoring his fifth win of the season, Ortmann and rookie Neilsen completed the podium. Behind them, Vips held on to fourth from the struggling Schramm and Fittje who were both second at one point. Meanwhile, Janneau Esmeijer in his return to the series collected seventh.