2018 ADAC Formula 4 Championship explained

The 2018 ADAC Formula 4 Championship was the fourth season of the ADAC Formula 4, an open-wheel motor racing series. It was a multi-event motor racing championship that featured drivers competing in 1.4 litre Tatuus-Abarth single seat race cars that conformed to the technical regulations for the championship. It began on 14 April at Oschersleben and finished on 23 September at Hockenheim after seven triple header rounds.

The championship was dominated by US Racing – CHRS driver Lirim Zendeli, who secured the title after race three at the Nürburgring.^[1] He extended his wins tally to ten with victory in the season finale at Hockenheim.^[2] His success was key for US Racing – CHRS teams' title. Van Amersfoort Racing driver Liam Lawson lost to Zendeli by 114 points with wins at Lausitzring and Spielberg. Prema Theodore Racing driver Enzo Fittipaldi was third with just one win, at Spielberg. Lawson's teammates Frederik Vesti and Charles Weerts were victorious at Hockenheim and Nürburgring, completing the top five in the standings. David Schumacher won the rookie title, defeating fellow German driver Niklas Krütten by 31 points.^[3]

Teams and drivers

Team Driver Status Rounds Van Amersfoort Racing 2 Frederik Vesti[4] All 21 Charles Weerts[5] All 22 Lucas Alecco Roy[6] All 23 Joey Alders[7] All 30 Liam Lawson[8] All Prema Theodore Racing 3 Caio Collet[9] 7 5 Gianluca Petecof[10] All 33 Jack Doohan[11] 2, 5–6 64 Olli Caldwell[12] All 74 Enzo Fittipaldi[13] All ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg 4 Niklas Krütten[14] All 6 Ido Cohen[15] 1–6 26 Leon Köhler[16] All 34 Amaury Cordeel 4–5 US Racing– CHRS 9 Petr Ptáček[17] 7 27 David Schumacher[18] All 28 Mick Wishofer All 44 Lirim Zendeli All 95 Tom Beckhäuser All KIC Driving Academy 10 nowrap Konsta Lappalainen[19] 1, 3, 5–6 69 nowrap Jesse Salmenautio 1, 5 Jenzer Motorsport 11 Giorgio Carrara[20] 5 12 Federico Malvestiti 5 16 Grégoire Saucy 5 KDC Racing[21] 13 Aaron di Comberti[22] 1–3 14 Leonardo Lorandi[23] 1–3 Neuhauser Racing 80 Andreas Estner 1–5 81 Sebastian Estner 1–5 Václav Šafář 98 Václav Šafář 5

Icon Legend Rookie Guest drivers ineligible to score points

Race calendar

Venues for the 2018 season were announced on 19 December 2017 with the first Hockenheim round and the Lausitzring round as 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters support events, while other event were scheduled to support 2018 ADAC GT Masters.^[24] The calendar was altered on 26 March 2018, filling the slot in the 2018 German Grand Prix support package, making a debut for ADAC Formula 4 in the Formula One weekend programme and becoming the first FIA Formula 4 race in the Formula One weekend slot in Europe.^[25]

Round		Circuit	Date	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning team
1	R1	Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Oschersleben	14 April	Lirim Zendeli	Mick Wishofer	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	nowrap	David Schumacher
	R2	Lirim Zendeli		Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	Gianluca Petecof
	R3	15 April		Mick Wishofer	Olli Caldwell	Prema Theodore Racing	Niklas Krütten
2	R1	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	5 May	Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	David Schumacher
	R2			Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	Joey Alders
	R3		6 May		nowrap	Mick Wishofer	nowrap	Mick Wishofer	US Racing– CHRS	Niklas Krütten
3	R1	Lausitzring, Klettwitz	19 May	Lirim Zendeli	Enzo Fittipaldi	Liam Lawson	nowrap	Van Amersfoort Racing	Ido Cohen
	R2			Lirim Zendeli	Charles Weerts	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing – CHRS	David Schumacher
	R3		20 May		Frederik Vesti	Liam Lawson	Van Amersfoort Racing	Niklas Krütten
4	R1	Red Bull Ring, Spielberg	9 June	nowrap	Enzo Fittipaldi	nowrap	Charles Weerts	nowrap	Enzo Fittipaldi	Prema Theodore Racing	David Schumacher
	R2			Enzo Fittipaldi	nowrap	Enzo Fittipaldi	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	Niklas Krütten
	R3		10 June		Enzo Fittipaldi	Liam Lawson	Van Amersfoort Racing	Niklas Krütten
5	R1	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	21 July	Frederik Vesti	Lirim Zendeli	Frederik Vesti	Van Amersfoort Racing	David Schumacher
	R2		22 July	Liam Lawson	Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	Jack Doohan
6	R1	Nürburgring, Nürburg	4 August	Lirim Zendeli	Frederik Vesti	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	David Schumacher
	R2			Lirim Zendeli	Frederik Vesti	Frederik Vesti	Van Amersfoort Racing	David Schumacher
	R3		5 August		Jack Doohan	Niklas Krütten	nowrap	ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg	Niklas Krütten
7	R1	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	22 September	Liam Lawson	Lirim Zendeli	nowrap	Charles Weerts	Van Amersfoort Racing	David Schumacher
	R2			Liam Lawson	Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	Caio Collet
	R3		nowrap	23 September		Lirim Zendeli	Lirim Zendeli	US Racing– CHRS	Leon Köhler

Championship standings

Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in each race. No points were awarded for pole position or fastest lap.

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
Points	25	18	15	12	10	8	6	4	2	1

Drivers' Cup

Pos Driver OSC HOC1 LAU RBR HOC2 NÜR HOC3 Pts 1 Lirim Zendeli 1 1 Ret 1 1 3 11 1 4 4 1 5 3 1 1 2 5 7 1 1 348 2 Liam Lawson 3 17 17 2 2 6 1 2 1 3 6 1 2 18 6 15 14 2 3 16 234 3 Enzo Fittipaldi 4 3 2 5 Ret 7 2 6 6 1 2 18 4 3 2 3 3 5 Ret 14 223 4 Frederik Vesti 6 2 4 6 3 8 Ret Ret 5 2 5 2 1 11 3 1 6 3 Ret 13 211 5 Charles Weerts Ret 4 3 7 4 4 10 5 2 5 Ret 8 8 8 7 5 4 1 4 2 195 6 Mick Wishofer 2 Ret 7 Ret 7 1 3 4 3 9 3 6 14 Ret 8 16 Ret 4 2 8 160 7 Olli Caldwell 10 8 1 3 15 10 Ret 3 7 8 4 4 Ret 2 Ret 9 7 10 12 9 125 8 Niklas Krütten 9 9 5 Ret 8 2 Ret 12 8 12 7 3 Ret 9 9 7 1 12 8 7 108 9 David Schumacher 5 13 13 4 9 15 9 7 18 6 Ret 7 5 12 4 4 8 6 14 5 103 10 Gianluca Petecof 8 6 15 Ret 18 9 Ret Ret 9 7 Ret 17 6 7 5 6 2 Ret 7 4 92 11 Joey Alders Ret 11 6 Ret 5 11 Ret 8 14 11 Ret 10 9 6 Ret 10 Ret 9 10 15 44 12 Jack Doohan 8 6 5 12 4 Ret Ret 12 35 13 Leon Köhler 12 10 16 Ret 12 16 Ret 10 10 14 9 11 17 Ret 10 8 Ret Ret 6 3 33 14 Andreas Estner 13 5 Ret 9 16 Ret 5 Ret 19 17 8 9 16 14 28 15 Konsta Lappalainen 7 DSQ 11 4 15 11 20 22† 12 13 11 19 16 Caio Collet 14 5 6 18 17 Leonardo Lorandi Ret 7 14 11 Ret 18 6 11 Ret 14 18 Lucas Alecco Roy 16 12 8 Ret 11 12 Ret 9 15 10 Ret 16 10 21† 13 12 10 13 13 11 11 19 Ido Cohen Ret 16 Ret 14 13 14 8 14 13 13 10 14 18 13 14 11 9 7 20 Aaron di Comberti 14 Ret Ret 13 17 19 7 17 17 6 21 Tom Beckhäuser 11 14 12 10 10 13 Ret 16 16 15 12 12 13 20 11 14 13 11 11 12 4 22 Sebastian Estner 15 18 10 12 14 17 Ret 13 12 16 11 13 19 15 2 23 Amaury Cordeel Ret Ret 15 21 17 0 Drivers ineligible to score points - Grégoire Saucy 11 5 - - Federico Malvestiti 7 10 - - Petr Ptáček 8 9 10 - - Jesse Salmenautio DNS 15 9 23 19 - - Giorgio Carrara 15 23† - - Václav Šafář 22 16 - Pos Driver OSC HOC1 LAU RBR HOC2 NÜR HOC3 Pts

Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

Notes:

•  – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Rookies' Cup

Pos	Driver	OSC			HOC1			LAU			RBR			HOC2		NÜR			HOC3			Pts
1	David Schumacher	5	13	13	4	9	15	9	7	18	6	Ret	7	5	12	4	4	8	5	14	5	332
2	Niklas Krütten	9	9	5	Ret	8	2	Ret	12	8	12	7	3	Ret	9	9	7	1	12	8	7	301
3	Gianluca Petecof	8	6	15	Ret	18	12	Ret	Ret	9	7	Ret	17	6	7	5	6	2	Ret	7	4	232
4	Joey Alders	Ret	11	6	Ret	5	11	Ret	8	14	11	Ret	10	9	6	Ret	10	Ret	9	10	15	202
5	Leon Köhler	12	10	16	Ret	12	16	Ret	10	10	14	9	11	17	Ret	10	8	Ret	Ret	6	3	196
6	Ido Cohen	Ret	16	Ret	14	13	14	8	14	13	13	10	14	18	13	14	11	9				160
7	Sebastian Estner	15	18	10	12	14	17	Ret	13	12	16	11	13	19	15							118
8	Jack Doohan				8	6	5							12	4	Ret	Ret	12				101
9	Caio Collet																		14	5	6	49
10	Amaury Cordeel										Ret	Ret	15	21	17							14
Pos	Driver	OSC			HOC1			LAU			RBR			HOC2		NÜR			HOC3			Pts

Teams' Cup

Pos	Team	Points
1	US Racing– CHRS	562
2	Van Amersfoort Racing	521
3	Prema Theodore Racing	416
4	nowrap	ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg	275
5	Neuhauser Racing	104
6	KIC Driving Academy	51
7	KDC Racing	49

Notes and References

1. News: Waring . Bethonie . Zendeli secures ADAC Formula 4 title at the Nurburgring, Krutten wins race three . 23 September 2018 . formulascout.com . Formula Scout . 5 August 2018.
2. News: Waring . Bethonie . Lirim Zendeli ends ADAC F4 season with 10th win at Hockenheim . 23 September 2018. formulascout.com . Formula Scout . 23 September 2018.
3. News: Waring . Bethonie . Lirim Zendeli takes ninth ADAC F4 win at Hockenheim, David Schumacher wins rookie title . 23 September 2018. formulascout.com . Formula Scout . 22 September 2018.
4. News: Allen. Peter. Zendeli and Wishofer join Schumacher at US Racing for ADAC F4. 26 March 2018. formulascout.com. Formula Scout. 26 March 2018.
5. News: Charles Weerts joins Van Amersfoort Racing in 2018. 23 February 2018. adac-motorsport.de. ADAC. 23 February 2018.
6. News: Lucas Alecco Roy continuous his special route with Van Amersfoort Racing. 14 March 2018. motorautosport.nl. 13 March 2018.
7. News: Wood. Elliot. Van Amersfoort Racing sign Dutch karter Joey Alders for ADAC F4. 14 February 2018. formulascout.com. Formula Scout. 13 February 2018.
8. News: Wood. Elliot. New Zealand star Liam Lawson joins VAR for ADAC F4. 16 March 2018. formulascout.com. Formula Scout. 16 March 2018.
9. News: Wood . Elliot . French series leader Caio Collet joins Prema for ADAC F4 one-off . 19 September 2018 . formulascout.com . Formula Scout . 18 September 2018.
10. News: Allen. Peter. New Ferrari recruit Petecof to race in both Italian and German F4 for Prema. 5 February 2018. formulascout.com. 5 February 2018.
11. News: Jack Doohan joins Prema for selected rounds of ADAC & Italian F4 Championships. 6 March 2018. mailchi.mp. 6 March 2018.
12. News: Waring. Bethonie. Olli Caldwell picks Prema for dual ADAC and Italian Formula 4 campaigns. 26 February 2018. formulascout.com. Formula Scout. 26 February 2018.
13. Web site: ENZO FITTIPALDI RETURNS TO PREMA FOR ADAC & ITALIAN F4 TITLE ASSAULT. Jackson. Connor. The Checkered Flag. 30 January 2018. 30 January 2018.
14. Web site: Mucke signs karter Niklas Krutten to F4 team ahead of 2018. 8 November 2017. 30 November 2017.
15. Web site: Ido Cohen becomes first Israeli in #ADACF4 with BWT Mücke Motorsport. https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005853/https://drivetribe.com/p/ido-cohen-becomes-first-israeli-YEwg2413Q3KVYbH90F6IRw?iid=Fb57o2L-S_iYFfT1ytXtkw. dead. December 6, 2017. 25 November 2017. 5 December 2017.
16. Web site: Amtierender Kart-Europameister startet 2018 für BWT Mücke Motorsport. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324223744/http://www.automobilsport.com/race-categories--24/race-categories--24,174065,BWT-Muecke-Motorsport-verpflichtet-Leon-Koehler-fuer-die-ADAC-Formel-4,news.htm. usurped. March 24, 2018. 23 March 2018. 24 March 2018.
17. Web site: ADAC Formel 4 Starterliste Hockenheimring . adac-motorsport.de . . 19 September 2018 . 1 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221001082110/https://www.adac-motorsport.de/docs/adac-formel-4/2018/ergebnisse/7109/Starterliste_ADAC_Formel4_2018_Race_Hockenheimring_Vers_18.09.2018.pdf?1537276473 . dead .
18. Web site: Ralf Schumacher's son David makes F4 jump in 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170902181519/https://www.motorsport.com/formula4/news/ralf-schumacher-s-son-makes-f4-jump-in-2018-944041/. dead. September 2, 2017. 24 August 2017. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 2 September 2017.
19. News: Costa. Massimo. Il via da Oschersleben Lorandi con KDC sfida la Prema. 13 April 2018. italiaracing.net. Inpagina. 12 April 2018. it.
20. Web site: Practice Session Classification . adac-motorsport.de . . 21 July 2018 . 20 July 2018 . 21 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180721102834/https://www.adac-motorsport.de/docs/adac-formel-4/sessions/27846.pdf . dead .
21. News: Garloff. Bianca. Bach. Ralf. Exklusiv: Kaltenborn zurück im Motorsport!. 16 February 2018. sportbild.bild.de. SportBILD. 16 February 2018. de.
22. News: Costa. Massimo. KDC con Morozov nel tricolore Di Comberti nell'italiano e nel tedesco. 13 March 2018. italiaracing.net. Inpagina. 12 March 2018. it.
23. News: Allen. Peter. Lorandi joins Kaltenborn's KDC Racing team for ADAC F4. 16 March 2018. formulascout.com. Formula Scout. 16 March 2018.
24. Web site: Fourth season: 2018 calendar finalised - News - ADAC Formel 4 - ADAC Motorsport . www.adac-motorsport.de . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171223042829/https://www.adac-motorsport.de/adac-formel-4/uk/artikel/fourth-season-2018-calendar-finalised-seven-race-weekends-under-banner-of-adac-gt-masters-dtm-243902 . 2017-12-23.
25. News: Allen. Peter. ADAC F4 to support F1 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. 26 March 2018. formulascout.com. Formula Scout. 26 March 2018.