Method for forming a connection between a functional element having a head section and a blade and a thin metal sheet having a thickness, in the case of which - the head section of the functional element is formed with a cutting foot having the blade having a foot length and a predetermined foot diameter, - having a tool engaging on the functional element having an axial forward thrust movement generated by said tool, the material of the thin metal sheet is deformed by means of the cutting foot into an indentation of a mold, such that when the cutting foot is radially spread an undercut is formed, wherein the cutting foot is pressed into the thin metal sheet without penetrating through the thin metal sheet, - the indentation of the mold is formed with a mold depth and a mold diameter, and - a base surface (31.2) of the indentation of the mold is formed with a mandrel-shaped elevation, characterised in that - the head section is formed on one side with a bolt section and on the opposite side with the cutting foot, wherein for the formation of a band (2.2) surrounding the cutting foot and the bolt section, the cutting foot and the bolt section are formed with a smaller diameter than the head section, - for the formation of the cutting foot, the end face (2.1), opposite to the bolt section, of the head section is formed with a concave indentation (4.1), wherein the blade is formed at a transition of the indentation (4.1) to a casing surface (4.2) of the cutting foot, and - a peripheral gap surrounding the cutting foot in the transition to the head section is formed in that the foot length of the cutting foot and the mold diameter and the mold depth of the mold are selected as a function of the predetermined thickness of the thin metal sheet according to the following stipulation: - F ≤ 2.2 xS - D ≤ 2xS + E - C ≤ S. - the head section of the functional element is formed with a cutting foot having the blade having a foot length and a predetermined foot diameter, - having a tool engaging on the functional element having an axial forward thrust movement generated by said tool, the material of the thin metal sheet is deformed by means of the cutting foot into an indentation of a mold, such that when the cutting foot is radially spread an undercut is formed, wherein the cutting foot is pressed into the thin metal sheet without penetrating through the thin metal sheet, - the indentation of the mold is formed with a mold depth and a mold diameter, and - a base surface (31.2) of the indentation of the mold is formed with a mandrel-shaped elevation, - the head section is formed on one side with a bolt section and on the opposite side with the cutting foot, wherein for the formation of a band (2.2) surrounding the cutting foot and the bolt section, the cutting foot and the bolt section are formed with a smaller diameter than the head section, - for the formation of the cutting foot, the end face (2.1), opposite to the bolt section, of the head section is formed with a concave indentation (4.1), wherein the blade is formed at a transition of the indentation (4.1) to a casing surface (4.2) of the cutting foot, and - a peripheral gap surrounding the cutting foot in the transition to the head section is formed in that the foot length of the cutting foot and the mold diameter and the mold depth of the mold are selected as a function of the predetermined thickness of the thin metal sheet according to the following stipulation: - F ≤ 2.2 xS - D ≤ 2xS + E - C ≤ S. - F ≤ 2.2 xS - D ≤ 2xS + E - C ≤ S.