A superb drive through the field from Juri Vips saw the Estonian start the ADAC Formula 4 season in fine form, with another victory to his name. The Prema Powerteam driver kept out of trouble to jump two positions from his starting position at Oschersleben.
Coming into the race, talk surrounded Sophia Floersch who had been disqualified from qualifying after a technical infringement involving her brakes. She would be forced to start each race from the back, destroying her weekend. She only fought back to sixteenth.
It would get worse for her BWT Mucke Motorsport outfit as teammate Tom Beckhauser retired after incidents with the independent drivers towards the back of the grid, bringing out the safety car.
A disaster of a start for pole sitter Felipe Drugovich saw the Brazilian drop to fourth in the opening few corners, handing the lead to Nicklas Nielsen, who led the pack away after the brief stoppage.
The story of the race would revolve around the four car battle for the lead as Vips chased down, and eventually passed Nielsen, through the long turn three after holding a tighter line than his Danish rival through the chicane.
Meanwhile the battle for the podium saw Jonathan Aberdein hold off Drugovich despite intense pressure from the polesitter. Completing the top five would be Fabio Scherer who stayed out of trouble as Juan Manuel Correa took sixth.
Julian Hanses would be seventh, ensuring the US Racing team got three cars within the top ten. Behind him, Lirim Zendeli, Oliver Soderstrom and Kiwi Marcus Armstrong would complete the points scorers, ensuring Armstrong will be on pole for the reverse grid event.