Abstract: A pile-driving apparatus and a method for driving a pile element into the ground, wherein a head region of the pile element is arranged in a driving helmet on an underside of a driven hammer unit, which is moved by a main winch and a main rope along a mast and drives the pile element in a vertical driving position into the ground. The pile element is hoisted by an auxiliary winch with auxiliary rope from a lying position into the approximately vertical driving position, in which the head region of the pile element is received in the driving helmet of the hammer unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for driving a pile element into the ground. A head region of the pile element is arranged in a driving helmet on an underside of a driven hammer unit, which is moved along a mast and drives the pile element into the ground. The pile element is hoisted by means of an auxiliary winch with auxiliary rope from a lying position into the approximately vertical driving position, in which the head region of the pile element is received in the driving helmet of the hammer unit. In accordance with the invention during hoisting of the pile element to be driven in, the main winch and the auxiliary winch are controlled automatically in a simultaneous manner so that during hoisting the head region of the pile element rests with a predeterminable pressing force against the driving helmet.