Lia Block Wins Singapore Race 1: First F1 Academy Victory Under the Lights

Originally held at the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix weekend. Report published retroactively for season continuity.

Lia Block wins F1 Academy Singapore Race 1 in a flawless drive under the Marina Bay lights.
Calm. Composed. Clinical.

It was the kind of performance that changes how a paddock looks at you. A lights-to-flag masterclass in the hardest conditions of the year. The night she proved she belongs.

Ferrari’s Maya Weug climbed from eighth to second to keep her title alive.
Chloe Chambers fought through the mess to take the final step on the podium.
But this was Block’s night.

Key Points – F1 Academy Singapore Race 1

• Winner: Lia Block (Williams)
• Podium: Maya Weug (Ferrari), Chloe Chambers (Haas)
• Key moment: Two Safety Cars, both handled perfectly by Block
• Penalty: Alba Larsen, 10 seconds for contact with Lisa Billard
• Update: Nicole Havrda cleared to race in Race 2 after precautionary hospital checks

Early Drama

A delayed start after barrier repairs set the tone.
Then the lights went out and everything kicked off.

Aurelia Nobels launched well and sent it up the inside at Turn 1. Side by side, both deep, both wide. Block rejoined still ahead. Weug read it early and sliced through the inside line to reach fifth from eighth.

Behind her, Nicole Havrda clipped the wall and stopped. Safety Car before Lap 1 even finished.

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Settling the Pace

Block judged the restart perfectly. She went early out of Turn 16 and opened a gap.
Nobels held second. Chambers and Emma Felbermayr fought hard for third.

By Lap 5, Weug was on the move again. She cleared Felbermayr cleanly into Turn 14 and set her sights on Nobels. The Ferrari was flying. On Lap 6, she went the long way round at Turn 15 and made the pass for P2 stick.

Block’s lead stood at 1.8 seconds. A margin that looked safe until Alisha Palmowski hit the wall at Turn 9 after climbing nine places. Safety Car again. Billard retired with damage.

Race Recap – The Chase

When racing resumed, the rhythm changed.
Weug started to close, two tenths here, half a tenth there.

Sector times told the story. The Ferrari was stronger in the middle, Block faster in the final sector where it mattered most. Behind them, Chambers had finally cleared Nobels, the Haas stable through the long corners and pulling away.

Lap 12, the penultimate lap. Weug pushed harder. She braked late into Turn 7, trying to unsettle the leader, but Block stayed calm. No wheelspin, no mistakes.

Fourteen laps complete. Six tenths between them at the flag.

Midfield Voice

Chambers called it “one of the toughest races of the year.”
Grip dropped away late on, and she had to fight hard to keep Nobels behind.

Weug said afterward, “If I could have got a bit closer out of Turn 5, I might have had one shot. But I’m happy with the points. The car came alive once the tyres settled.”

Pin recovered from a rough first half to climb back into the top five, trading moves with Nobels and Felbermayr along the way. Ella Lloyd crossed fourth on the road but a five-second penalty for track limits dropped her to seventh.

Final Classification – Singapore Race 1

1. Lia Block (Williams / ART Grand Prix)
2. Maya Weug (Ferrari / MP Motorsport)
3. Chloe Chambers (Red Bull Ford / Campos Racing)
4. Aurelia Nobels (PUMA / ART Grand Prix)
5. Doriane Pin (Mercedes / PREMA Racing)
6. Emma Felbermayr (Kick Sauber / Rodin Motorsport)
7. Ella Lloyd (McLaren / Rodin Motorsport) +5 s penalty
8. Nina Gademan (Alpine / PREMA Racing)

DNFs: Alisha Palmowski (Red Bull Racing / Campos Racing), Lisa Billard (WCD Gatorade / Hitech TGR), Rafaela Ferreira (Racing Bulls / Campos Racing)
Medical: Nicole Havrda (American Express / Hitech TGR) cleared post-race

Championship Picture

Doriane Pin still leads the standings, but her advantage is narrowing.
Weug’s consistency keeps the pressure on, while Block’s maiden win lifts her into the top five.

It also adds a new variable to the closing rounds. The Williams driver now has form, confidence, and momentum heading into Race 2.

Coffee Corner Take

First wins are rarely this clean.
Lia Block earned every inch.

Two restarts. No errors. Cool head.
Weug did what champions do, maximised the day.
Chambers delivered when it mattered.

Singapore rewards composure. Block found it under the lights.

Written and verified by Terry Widdows for Coffee Corner Motorsport, using official race data, team releases, and F1 Academy media summaries.

Verified with official race summaries and coverage from F1 Academy, Formula1.com and Racers Behind The Helmet.