How the ADAC F4 title battle has begun even before the season starts

However, repeated track limits violations earned Barnard a 30s penalty and dropped him to last place in F4 by some way.

Track limits will no doubt be a big talking point when ADAC F4 visits the Red Bull Ring this weekend, although it’s an issue more likely to prosper in races than qualifying, given a grid of 24 cars is anticipated. The first corner and the last two are the usual places of consternation for those policing track limits, and losing a laptime to an offence in qualifying could easily take a driver several rows down the grid.

In the race there’s a more cautious approach to track limits not because of the penalties, but striking the kerbs and the raised strips beyond them can seriously damage a car when done multiple times and even end a driver’s race entirely.

R-ace GP’s Victor Bernier almost won at the Red Bull Ring last year when Van Amersfoort Racing’s Jonny Edgar came very close to a track limits penalty ahead, but a close second place was still impressive and a third place finish later in the weekend makes the Frenchman one of the favourites for this weekend.

Over in the Italian series last year, Ollie Bearman did similarly well in Austria with two fifths and a second on his championship debut. While neither of these drivers have been back to the Red Bull Ring for racing since, that’s because instead they were recently focused on the second Italian F4 round of the season at Misano instead.

Bearman won twice there, with Iron Lynx’s Leonardo Fornaroli taking the other victory of the weekend, while Prema’s Hamda Al Qubaisi and Sebastian Montoya also made the podium. The absence of US Racing meant there was no repeat of the Paul Ricard season opener where Tim Tramnitz and Browning mostly controlled proceedings.

If you look at Austria or Italy, it’s clear the main ADAC players are already locking horns and have established a competitive order that if it’s is going to be representative of this weekend is going to be comparable to the whole season’s picture.

And each event will take on more importance, as the Oschersleben round on June 26/27 has been called off. That leaves just five dates after the Red Bull Ring, but removes the last remaining calendar clash with Italian F4 and means Prema, R-ace GP and VAR’s drivers could very well be doing full seasons in both series.

Even with two of the six rounds now taking place at Hockenheim, these calendar have now ultimately made the series more competitive for 2021 and absolutely makes it one of the places to watch for future F1 stars.

The only negative, although one that will perhaps also contribute to a closer title battle, is that the six drivers being run by Iron Lynx and Jenzer Motorsport this weekend are guests and won’t be eligible for points.

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