Next victory on way to becoming championship runner-up
Günther at the Sachsenring: Fourth win of season
Maximilian Günther finished the penultimate Formel ADAC race weekend at the Sachsenring with a bang. The Deutsche Post Speed Academy protégé drove confidently to victory in tough, rainy conditions. Maxi also posted the fastest lap of the race on the way to his fourth win of the season. In the previous two races, the 17-year-old crossed the finish line in fifth and eighth place on the well established Sachsenring track. In qualifying, the most successful driver in qualifying in the history of the series did not quite live up to expectations with eighth place, but nevertheless, was the best driver for his team, Mücke Motorsport.
Maxi, how did the winner’s champagne taste?
Maxi, summing things up in one word: “Brilliant!” The young Bavarian secured his fourth victory of the season at the Sachsenring – the second highest total of any driver in the Formel ADAC. “This win was a huge relief,” conceded the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé after the battle in the rain. “The past few weeks have not been easy for the team or for me, which makes it even nicer to win in these tricky conditions, where much depends on one’s driving skill.”
What’s your goal now in the season finale?
Maxi’s rival, Mikkel Jensen, secured the championship before season’s end at the Sachsenring. “I congratulated Mikkel on winning the championship that evening, which goes without saying,” said Maximilian, showing true greatness. The whole package of Maxi and his team was practically unbeatable this season. Maxi was hot on the heels of the 19-year-old Dane the whole year, but it was not quite enough in the end. Now Maximilian is focused on the successful defence of his runner-up title. “Of course, it’s at the back of my mind, but we’ll just do our thing and see what comes of it. I’ll continue to take each race as it comes and try to do the best I can.” And there’s a very good chance of success. Maximilian has a lead of 36 points on the driver in third-place as he travels to the Hockenheim finale.
Maxi’s lessons from the Sachsenring
1. “The win at the Sachsenring showed once again: We will never give up and keep on fighting!”
2. “A small mistake in the second race cost me P5 – but you have to just go for it now and then.”
3. “Things go better for others from time to time. You have to acknowledge that. My congratulations to the champion.”
What next?
Next stop: Hockenheimring, the season finale. On the weekend of October 3rd-5th, Maximilian will guest along with the Formel ADAC at the historic track in south-west Germany for the last race weekend of the year. Maxi has fond memories of the Formula 1 circuit. He finished on the podium there last year after securing a double pole. Maximilian: “Parabolica, Motodrom – Hockenheim is a lot of fun. The circuit has plenty of fast turns. At the same time, though, there are also technical passages as at the Motodrom and running through the section in front of the Mercedes-Benz grandstand. The track has a bit of everything. I’m already really looking forward to the race. Getting a good exit out of the turns is particularly important. Obviously, the focus has to be on those key elements which are the turns that follow the long straights.”
Foto: ADAC Formel Masters