The inaugural round of the F1 Academy 2025 commenced earlier today in Shanghai, with Maya Weug, backed by Ferrari, making a spectacular start to her 2025 campaign by securing her maiden F1 Academy pole position. She narrowly edged out Doriane Pin (Mercedes) by a margin of over four tenths.
From the outset, Weug displayed exceptional prowess, consistently topping the timing sheets throughout the sessions. Her personal best time, which ultimately became unbeatable, was a remarkable 2:03.379.
The top three positions were completed by Pin in second place and Alba Larsen, the debutant, in third. Larsen concluded her maiden session with a commendable performance.
The F1 Academy qualifying session, which spans 30 minutes, precedes the two 40-minute practice sessions and determines the grid for the subsequent race. Each race in the F1 Academy is scheduled to last 30 minutes. The grid for race one in the F1 Academy is determined by reversing the top eight drivers from Qualifying, with drivers in ninth to 18th commencing their positions based on their qualifying times.
Prior to Weug’s achievement of the 2:04s, Ella Lloyd established the early pace with a 2:06.143. However, Chloe Chambers swiftly surpassed this time, shaving a tenth off it before Alisha Palmowski assumed the provisional pole position with a lap time of 2:05.092.
Doriane Pin ignited the timing sheets in sector one, emerging as the fastest driver and positioning herself to challenge Weug for pole position. Nevertheless, she was unable to maintain her exceptional pace throughout her lap and ultimately settled for second place.
Following a brief intermission, the drivers resumed their efforts, with Larsen in the Tommy Hilfiger car solidifying her position as the top rookie, securing third place ahead of Chambers and Palmowski. Joanne Ciconte ensured that all three MP Motorsport cars would occupy positions within the top six, with Kick Sauber’s Emma Felbermayr in seventh place.
Nina Gademan secured eighth place for Alpine, followed by Aston Martin’s Tina Hausmann in ninth and Chloe Chong in tenth place, piloting the Charlotte Tilbury car.
Earlier in the practice sessions, there was drama involving Williams driver Lia Block, who sustained damage and was unable to compete in qualifying after an incident with Rafaela Ferreira. Consequently, the stewards investigated Red Bull driver Ferreira’s actions and imposed a three-place grid penalty, which will be applied to both races for this season. The Racing Bull driver was found to have caused a collision with Lia Block between Turns 13 and 14. The stewards determined that Ferreira was weaving her car to warm the tires on the straight between two turns, in front of Block, who was on a flying lap.
When Ferreira moved left, the Williams driver attempted to pass, but the #18 car continued to weave and moved to the right, colliding with Block. The stewards held Ferreira fully responsible for the collision. Williams’ Lia Block has also been granted permission to participate in the race, despite not being able to participate in qualifying.
The first Sprint Race of the 2025 season will get underway at 13:50 local time (GMT+8) on Saturday, with Nina Gademan set to line up on reverse grid pole alongside Emma Felbermayr in an all-rookie front row lockout.
Qualifying Results Round 1
1. 64 M.Weug 2:03.379
2. 28 D.Pin 2:03.876
3. 12 A.Larsen 2:04.006
4. 14 C.Chambers 2:04.083
5. 21 A.Palmowski 1:04.143
6. 25 J,Ciconte 2:04.146
7. 5 E Felbermayr 2:04.227
8. 3 N.Gademan 2:04.258
9. 78 T.Hausmann 2:04.309
10. 27 C.Chong 2:04.579
11. 20 E Lloyd 2:04.763
12. 2 N.Havrda 2:04.811
13. 18 R.Ferreira 2:04,917
14. 22 A.Nobels 2:05.152
15. 7 C.Crone 2:05.251
16.11 A.Anagnostiadis 2:05.323
17. 24 W.Shi 2:06.665
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