Courtney Crone will be making a full-time step up to F1 Academy, with Haas selecting the American driver to represent them on the 2025 grid.
The 23 year old becomes the second Wild Card entrant to join next year’s field for the seven-round campaign, after narrowly missing out on points during her debut weekend at Round 2 in Miami.
Crone is currently competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North American Championship and has previously raced across multiple disciplines such as speedway motorcycles, dirt and pavement USAC Midget and Sprint Cars, LMP3 prototypes, and various junior Formula Cars.
Her achievements include winning the 2023/24 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship and the 2021 Gorsline Company Scholarship. She is also a three-time winner of the Women’s Sports Foundation / Project Podium with Lyn St. James award and a three-time VMB Driver Development scholarship winner.
Haas took the opportunity to thank outgoing driver Chloe Chambers – who will be representing Red Bull Ford for 2025 – for her hard works across the season, which also includes her maiden victory in Barcelona Race 2.
I’m incredibly honoured to be joining the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season. Representing America’s F1 team is a dream come true, and I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity. Ever since I competed with the F1 ACADEMY at the Miami Grand Prix as a Wild Card entrant, it’s been a goal of mine to race full-time in the series. That experience gave me a taste of the challenge and devotion it will take to become a championship contender. Making the most of this incredible opportunity is my number one priority and together with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, I feel I have the best chance for success. Crone on the news.
I’m delighted to welcome Courtney to the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team family. As F1 ACADEMY approaches the crescendo of its first season racing on the Formula 1 calendar, it’s been astonishing to see the increased interest and popularity of the category – that’s testament to the hard work put in by Susie Wolff and the F1 ACADEMY team to provide greater opportunities for female racers. Courtney is an ambitious and dedicated racer, something that when looking for an ambassador for our team was crucial. We’ll provide access, support, and opportunities to learn within a Formula 1 organization, and in turn, we look forward to seeing another F1 ACADEMY recruit thrive on the world’s stage. Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.
F1 Academy has announced the calendar for the 2025 season featuring seven rounds in support of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and three new venues, including Las Vegas where the series will reach its finale.
The 2025 season will open in China, which joins the calendar for the first time, before returning to Jeddah and Miami. The iconic circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal joins the F1 Academy calendar for the first time to host Round 4, before the series takes to the sand dunes of Zandvoort and the streets of Singapore. The series will reach its conclusion on Las Vegas Strip Circuit as the first single seater support series to race on the streets.
The 2025 season will feature 14 races across seven rounds, and as part of the series’ commitment to offer extensive seat time the calendar will be supported by a comprehensive 15 day testing programme.
Since its launch in 2022, F1 Academy has seen significant growth and global interest, with the series broadcast in 160 territories and a docuseries set to be released on Netflix in 2025.
Mercedes backed Doriane Pin secured double pole in qualifying, meaning she will start first in both races across the penultimate 2024 F1 Academy weekend.
Alongside her on both front rows will be her PREMA Racing teammate, Ferrari’s Maya Weug, with Alpine’s Abbi Pulling have to settle for third across the two events as she chases down the Drivers’ title.
After a delayed start to the session due to barrier repairs from an earlier event, Qualifying got underway with just 23 minutes available.
Pin who was quickest in both Free Practice sessions on Friday, set the first representative time of the session to go top of the timesheets with a 1:55.998. However, it didn’t take long for Weug to beat that with a 1:55.779 with the two PREMA teammates going back and forth with the fastest times.
As Pin found herself quickest once again, Standings’ leader Pulling tried to add to her tally of seven pole positions this season.
Several drivers found themselves testing the limits of the circuit layout, with the likes of Haas’ Chloe Chambers driving through the gravel traps, Bianca Bustamante losing the rear of her McLaren into Turns 13 and 14 and Block experienced a spin.
However in the end it was Pin who finished on top as she set a blistering final lap of 1:55.267, going purple in the first sector and improving on her own best time.
Race 1-
Abbi Pulling has secured the 2024 F1 Academy title in Qatar, despite Mercedes’ Doriane Pin claiming a dominant victory from pole position in Race 1.
Pin had been unstoppable so far this weekend, topping every session before delivering a brilliant win in the desert in an attempt to keep her own title hopes alive. However, it wasn’t enough to stop Pulling from claiming the Drivers’ title with the Briton’s second place putting it out of mathematical reach.
Pole-sitter Pin managed to hold her lead over the pack behind on the approach into Turn 1. Behind her, there was a brilliant battle for second place unfolding between Maya Weug and Pulling, as the Alpine racer managed to find a space past.
Hamda Al Qubaisi was also on a charge at the start and made up a position from fifth, while F1 Academy Wild Card Alisha Palmowski also moved up a spot on her race debut.
By the start of the third lap, Pin had pulled out a 1.5s gap to Pulling and continued to extend her lead lap by lap, whilst Weug dropped further off the Brit’s tail in third.
Bustamante had an eventful outing with the McLaren driver finding the gravel on multiple occasions during the race, including at Turn 12 at the start with two big snaps of oversteer. She would also bring out some brief yellow flags during the final few laps as she spun out after getting her wheels in the gravel between Turn 4 and 5.
Meanwhile attentions turned to the front as the race entered its final laps. “You have a four second gap behind so just bring it home” Pulling was told by her Rodin Motorsport team, as Pin drove off into the distance.
The full top 10 are- P1: Pin, P2: Pulling, P3: Weug, P4: H Al Qubaisi, P5: Palmowski, P6: Block, P7: Edgar, P8: Marti, P9: Nobels and P10: De Heus.
Day 3-
Due to extended barrier repairs at the Lusail International Circuit, the race was cancelled.
As a result, no points will be awarded for the race. However, Doriane Pin will receive the two points for pole position.
Doriane Pin’s dream of keeping her title hopes alive got off to an ideal start as the PREMA Racing star topped the first practice session around Lusail.
Abbi Pulling of Rodin Motorsport was close behind in second, as the Alpine driver tries to secure the Drivers’ title this race weekend.
Aurelia Nobels in her ART Grand Prix machine was the first to hit the track, but it wasn’t long before she was joined on track by the MP Motorsport duo of Emely De Heus and Amna Al Qubaisi.
It was a slow start to the session for Standings’ leader Pulling, who had an issue with her car’s starter motor. The Brit spent the first part of the session in the pit lane but got out on track with just under 20 minutes of the session to go.
Rodin Motorsport’s Jess Edgar looked comfortable around the Lusail circuit as she went top of the timesheets early and continued to improve over the practice session. Hamda Al Qubaisi tried her best to knock her off the top spot, but despite going purple in the first and second sectors, was unable to beat the 1:57.592s benchmark set by Edgar.
With the track improving, Doriane Pin of PREMA Racing put her Mercedes to the top with a time of 1:56.654s. This would be he quickest time of the session with Pulling getting close to her title rival.
Free Practice 2-
Doriane Pin made it two-for-two in the second Free Practice in Lusail, edging ahead of title rival Abbi Pulling at the chequered flag.
It was a closely-fought session, with the top three separated by only 0.142s as Wild Card driver Alisha Palmowski made her mark in third.
Driving under the floodlights around the Lusail International Circuit, the field had their eyes on preparing for both tomorrow afternoon’s Qualifying and their first-ever night race.
Hamda Al Qubaisi was the first to get a time on the board, clocking a 1:58.348 as the initial benchmark. Setting the field’s quickest time yet in Qatar, Standings leader Pulling went top on a 1:56.453, whilst Chloe Chambers slotted into second in the Haas-liveried car.
The Brit continued to lower the time to beat to a 1:56.038, before Maya Weug eclipsed her effort by 0.019s. Pulling quickly regained the top spot on a 1:55.785, going two tenths clear of the Ferrari driver as Palmowski climbed into the top three.
Less than seven minutes were left on the clock as the fight for P1 ramped up. Block seized the top spot on a 1:55.517, only for the Williams driver to be immediately beaten by Palmowski’s 1:55.477.
Pin then went fastest of all on a 1:55.043, whilst Pulling kept in close range of the Mercedes driver, sitting in just six hundredths adrift. Entering their final attempts, Palmowski staked her claim on the quickest effort of the day, becoming the first driver to break into the 1:54s and putting her 0.107s ahead of Pin.
The top spot then shifted into Pin’s hands on a 1:54.914 until Pulling wrestled it away by 0.019s. It appeared to be job done, but Pin wasn’t finished just yet and snatched the fastest lap away from the Alpine driver with a 1:54.794.
Alisha Palmowski will line up on the F1 Academy grid as the Wild Card entry for Round 6 of the 2024 season in Qatar.
The British racer will take to the track at the Lusail International Circuit off the back of a successful debut season in single-seaters.
Competing in the 2024 GB4 Championship, the 18 year old clinched the Vice Champion honours with three wins, two pole positions and 11 podiums – more than any other driver in the field.
Palmowski will be in action in the number 6 F1 Academy Discover Your Drive – liveried car, operated by PREMA Racing, to highlight the success of the global programme which aims to increase the talent pool of young women entering motorsport.
So far, four Wild Cards have featured on an F1 Academy grid – Reema Juffali, Courtney Crone, Nina Gademan and Ella Lloyd, with the drivers gaining valuable experience and exposure from the series’ global platform.
I’m very excited to be the Wild Card Entry in Qatar, it’s an incredible opportunity and one I never could have dreamt of 12 months ago. This will be my first race outside of the UK, and for it be on the F1 ACADEMY grid as a support series to Formula 1 is a dream come true. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the team at F1 ACADEMY, and of course Susie Wolff, for giving me this opportunity to learn and hopefully secure a seat on the grid for next year. Palmowski on her F1 Academy debut.
Our global F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE programme identifies, supports and nurtures future talent, both on and off track. On track, the programme provides opportunities for talented young drivers to develop their skills and performance, as well as a platform to showcase their potential on an international stage. We’re delighted to welcome Alisha as our Round 6 Wild Card, and we look forward to seeing her in action in the F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE livery. Katie Denver, F1 Academy Driver Development Lead.
RB have announced that they will be fielding Brazilian driver Rafaela Ferreira for the 2025 F1 Academy season.
Ferreira stepped up to single seater after achieving karting success in her home country, becoming the first women to score a pole position in the 2022 Copa Brasil de Kart, where she finished fourth in the Championship.
The following year she secured one podium in the F4 Brazilian Championship, racing at the Interlagos Circuit during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
Returning for a second campaign this year, she made history as the series’ first female winner and currently sits fourth in the Championship, with two wins and a further five podiums to her name.
The team also took the opportunity to thank current driver, Amna Al Qubaisi for her hard work this season, with the Emirati driver set to depart F1 Academy as she reaches her maximum two-season stint.
I’m extremely happy to be driving for the Visa Cash App RB Academy Programme in F1 ACADEMY in 2025. This opportunity represents a big step in my career, and is a dream come true to work with a team that has so much talent. I’m determined to give my best and go after great results. It’ll be something new for me, but I’m confident that we will achieve a lot together. I’m already preparing and am excited for next year! Ferreira on the news.
Everyone at the Team is hugely excited to welcome Rafaela to the VCARB family. Rafaela is an exceptional emerging Brazilian talent, and we’re pleased to share this global, and empowering, platform to compete, race, and grow together. F1 ACADEMY has been a great success this season, the exposure that it’s generated for women’s motorsport is revolutionary. I hope we can continue to inspire the next generation of female talent in motorsports, and we look forward to seeing Rafaela grow and flourish as a driver. The Team would also like to thank Amna for her commitment across the season, we look forward to watching her progress and wish her the best of luck in the next phase of her career. RB Team Principal, Laurent Mekies.
We’ve been impressed by Rafaela’s performance this season and are very pleased to welcome her to the Team and work with her in F1 ACADEMY in 2025. Rafaela has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself as a race winner in Brazil. I’m looking forward to supporting her development and am excited to see what next season brings. Red Bull Academy Programme Manager, Sarah Harrington.
Ella Lloyd will be embarking on her first full F1 Academy season next year, with the Welsh racer joining the McLaren Driver Development programme to represent the team next season with Rodin Motorsport.
As part of her role in the programme, Lloyd will also compete in Formula E’s Women’s Test – for NEOM McLaren in November, as part of pre-season testing for the 2024/25 season.
The 19 year old made her car racing debut back in 2022 in the Ginetta Junior championship, scoring points in 15 of 25 races that season. The next year, saw her progress to the Ginetta GT Championship, scoring 10 victories and a further eight podiums on her way to Vice Champion title in the Pro Class.
This year, has seen Lloyd achieve the Female Driver Trophy several times in the Formula Winter Series. She also followed that up with a success rookie British F4 campaign in which she secured three second-place finishes, one third place and multiple points finishes to finish 11th in the Standings.
Lloyd has already had her first taste of racing in F1 Academy, where she scored points twice as the Wild Card Entry for Round 5 in Singapore last month.
I’m really excited to be joining the McLaren Driver Development programme as the team’s F1 ACADEMY driver in 2025. It’s an honour to drive for a team that has such a great racing history, and also a long track record for developing talent. With McLaren, I now have everything I need to keep developing and pushing the boundaries as a female in motorsport. Thank you to Zak Brown, Stephanie Carlin and the entire McLaren team for their faith in me. I can’t wait to get racing in papaya. Lloyd on the news.
I am pleased to welcome Ella to the McLaren Driver Development programme ahead of her debut as our F1 ACADEMY driver for the 2025 season. Ella has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself in the series, performing brilliantly as the Wild Card entry in Singapore, so we’re excited to see what she can do with us. We look forward to supporting her development. Stephanie Carlin, Director of F1 Business Operations at McLaren.
Chloe Chambers has become the first driver announced for the 2025 season, with the American driver joining the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme for her sophomore F1 Academy next year.
Chambers currently sits fourth in the Drivers’ Standings, driving for Haas operated by Campos Racing. The 20 year old scored her maiden win in Barcelona Race 2 alongside two further podium finishes, with only two rounds remaining.
Prior to that, she has also completed in the Formula 4 United States Championship and W Series, and in 2023 she became the first woman to start on pole and win a race in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
She got her first outing in the Red Bull Ford colours last weekend when she competed in the final round of the IMSA Mustang Challenge 2024 at the SRO Indianapolis 8 Hour.
The Red Bull Ford Academy programme team took the opportunity to thank current driver Emely De Heus for her commitment and hard work over the season, with the Dutch driver set to depart F1 Academy at the conclusion of her maximum two-season stint, as per the series’ regulations.
I am thrilled to be driving for the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme for the upcoming 2025 season. As an American driver, it is an honour to team up with an iconic American automotive company like Ford. It is a privilege to be partnering with the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme to continue improving female representation in the sport, and I am grateful for the support to achieve my own career goals in motorsport. I am excited to take part in the Ford Mustang Challenge this week and to have more opportunities to race outside of my role in F1 ACADEMY. My focus for the rest of the year remains on delivering performance with Haas, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter in 2025 with the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme. Chambers on the news.
Continuing our partnership with Ford as a title sponsor of the Red Bull Academy Programme is hugely exciting and further cements their commitment to female participation in motorsports. Everyone at the Team is looking forward to welcoming Chloe to the Red Bull family where she is a key part of our line-up for the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season. Welcoming an American driver that has previously been linked to Ford, marks an exciting progression in our partnership with Ford Performance. Red Bull and Ford share common values and are united in providing more opportunities for young and emerging talent in motorsports, and we can’t wait to see Chloe hit the track in Red Bull Ford colours in 2025. Christian Horner, CEO & Team Principal of Red Bull Racing.
It’s so great to welcome Chloe to the Ford family as she joins the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme. Chloe is not only a real racing talent but also has the ability to race in different series and to see her lining up in the Mustang Challenge in our Dark Horse R is really cool. To have an American driver representing an iconic American brand is the perfect scenario for us and we are excited for all that 2025 will hold. This partnership is also part of a much larger relationship that we now enjoy with Red Bull across many race series and our partnership is getting stronger all the time. Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsport.
Alpine’s Abbi Pulling started as she means to go around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, ending Free Practice fastest of all. The only driver to set a time inside the 2:03s, the standings leader kept building a gap over the pack.
The 16 drivers made the most out of every second of the 30 minute session as they began acclimatising to both the track and humidity.
Doriane Pin set the early benchmark with a 2:11.332 whilst Wild Card Ella Lloyd brought out a brief yellow flag after stopping momentarily on track.
As the track rubbered in, times continued to tumble. Pin went fastest once more, but only momentarily as PREMA Racing teammate Maya Weug utilised the tow to pull out an advantage of over one second. The trio traded personal best efforts and Weug responded quickly.
Drivers were all finding the limit and discovering how the Singaporean streets punish mistakes. A spin from Jessica Edgar saw the American Express driver tap the barrier at Turn 8.
Inside the final 12 minutes, Pulling became the first driver to go below the 2:04s mark, going over four tenths faster than Weug.
Track evolution allowed the field to push until the end, as purple and green sectors littered the timing screens. As Pulling went fastest again on a 2:04.648, Marti climbed up into second.
Pin returned to the top spot in the final minute, but it would be Pulling who’d take the chequered flag first and leapfrog the Mercedes driver into P1, setting a 2:03.993.
Qualifying-
Abbi Pulling overcame a three-way fight with Maya Weug and Doriane Pin to seize both pole positions on offer around the Singaporean streets.
The trio traded personal bests throughout the session, but it was the Alpine driver who emerged triumphant, posting an unbeatable 2:03.631 with five minutes left on the clock.
Nerea Marti opened qualifying on a 2:06.806 but the Tommy Hilfiger driver’s initial exploration was swiftly beaten by Pulling.
The Brit’s pace continued to build, as her second flying lap of a 2:04.662 launched her almost five tenths clear. Weug and Pin each demoted her in turn, before Pulling responded with a 2:04.335 to go top by 0.040s.
As the Campos Racing and ART trio led the field peeling into the pits, there was a nervous moment for Amna Al Qubaisi as the RB driver span over the run-off in Sector 1.
Fining more grip on their second set of tyres, personal bests flooded in inside the final five minutes. Pulling re-emerged out in front posting a 2:03.631, whilst Weug became her nearest competitor.
Pulling couldn’t improve on her final attempts, but nobody could answer her previous attempt as Weug and Pin had to settle for second and third, 0.238s and 0.256s back, respectively.
A storming last gasp effort for Lia Block promoted her to fourth, her best qualifying result of the season so far!
The full top 10 are- Pole: Pulling, P2: Weug, P3: Pin, P4: Block, P5: H Al Qubaisi, P6: Chambers, P7: Marti, P8: Lloyd, P9: Bustamante and P10: Schreiner.
F1 Academy has announced that British racer Ella Lloyd will join the grid as the Wild Card entry for Round 5.
Lloyd is currently competing in ROKiT FIA British Formula F4 with JHR Developments and has registered three podium finishes this season, sitting ninth in the standings out of 29.
Singapore will see her get behind the wheel of an F1 Academy car for the first time under the lights at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
The Wild Card initiative was introduced to help strengthen the talent pool in the regions in which F1 Academy races and prioritises talented young driver from each race region. At races where a driver from the local region is not available, the opportunity is made accessible to drivers from other regions who aspire to compete in F1 Academy in the future.
The 18 year old will compete in a special-edition livery and race suit to spotlight F1 Academy Discover Your Drive, the series’ global programme aimed at changing perceptions of motorsport and inspiring the next generation of female talent.
I am very excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to be the F1 ACADEMY Wild Card entry in Singapore. My hard work and dedication throughout my rookie season in single seaters have led me to this amazing moment in my career and I am looking forward to putting everything I have learned into practice and making the most of the weekend. I will show everyone what I can do behind the wheel while making the most of the experience and hopefully inspiring other young female drivers to push for their dreams. I would like to thank Susie Wolff, F1 ACADEMY and everyone involved for making this possible. Ella Lloyd on being the Wild Card Entry.
Drivers’ Standings leader Abbi Pulling ran the show in Qualifying, going from strength to strength to secure both F1 Academy pole positions on offer in Miami.
Her hold onto P1 was unrelenting, with a time of 1:58.507 in the final minutes of the session putting her over five tenths clear of Doriane Pin and Hamda Al Qubaisi. The Alpine driver will have different company for race 2, as Bianca Bustamante’s consistency was rewarded for P2, four tenths off, ahead of Pin in third.
With only 30 minutes on the clock, there was not a lot of time to lose as the field flooded out as the lights went green. Having set the pace in Free Practice 2, laid down the initial benchmark at 1:59.882.
Ferrari’s Maya Weug took over the top spot heading into the halfway mark, going 0.024s faster than Pulling’s latest attempt.
Benefitting from the track evolution, Bustamante pushed on, deposing Pulling momentarily with a 1:59.122, whilst Pin moved inside the top three. Pulling immediately responded with a 1:58.714.
As Pin improved to just over three tenths off, one flying lap solidified Pulling’s place at the top of the timing sheets, where she broke 0.574s clear of the Mercedes driver.
Hamda Al Qubaisi’s late burst of pace elevated her to third for Race 1 ahead of McLaren driver Bustamante.
The full top 10 for race 1 are- P1: Pulling, P2: Pin, P3: Hamda Al Qubaisi, P4: Bustamante, P5: Weug, P6: Marti, P7: Chambers, P8: Nobels, P9: Hausmann and P10: Lovinfosse.
The full top 10 for race 2 are- P1: Pulling, P2: Bustamante, P3: Pin, P4: Hamda Al Qubaisi, P5: Marti, P6: Weug, P7: Nobels, P8: Chambers, P9: Edgar and P10: Hausmann.
Race 1-
Controlling the race from pole, the Alpine driver led every lap and never looked back, taking the chequered flag with a 5 second advantage over second-placed Doriane Pin. Chloe Chamber gave her home crowd something to celebrate, battling hard to go from P7 to her first podium in the series.
Acing her getaway at lights out, Pulling kept Pin at bay into Turn 1 and immediately set out creating a 1 second buffer to the Mercedes driver in the space of a lap.
At the tail end of the top 10, Tina Hausmann’s race came to an early end after contact with Aurelia Nobels sent the Aston Martin driver off into the wall at Turn 8. Nobels would later be handed a 10-second penalty for the incident.
A three car battle for fourth saw Weug forced to go on the defensive heading into lap 3, as Nerea Marti attempted to move around the outside of Turn 1. Just behind, Chambers sat patiently, waiting to pounce when the opportunity arrived one lap later.
Marti found her way past Weug on lap 6, but a mistake undid all her work and allowed the Ferrari driver and Nobels to slip through momentarily.
Bustamante continued to make up lost ground, diving to the inside of the final corner with a move on Amna Al Qubaisi. Going side-by-side with RB driver, Bustamante managed to eke out ahead, but received a 5 second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage a few laps earlier.
Out front, Pulling’s mirrors were clear as she crossed the line to win by 5.2s to Pin and Chambers. The full top 10 are- P1: Pulling, P2: Pin, P3: Chambers, P4: Marti, P5: H Qubaisi, P6: Weug, P7: Edgar, P8: A Qubaisi, P9: Bustamante and P10: Lovinfosse.
Day 2- Race 2-
Abbi Pulling made it two for two as she brought home her second win on the streets of Miami. Bianca Bustamante righted her wrongs from Race 1, fending off a late push from Doriane Pin to earn her first podium for McLaren in second.
Pole sitter Pulling was instantly on the defensive from Bustamante as the lights went green, locking up slightly into Turn 1, managing to outbreak the ART car, she managed to hold the lead.
Chambers was once again on a charge after her race 1 podium. A storming start from P8 for the Haas driver saw her slide past Aurelia Nobels, Nerea Marti and Maya Weug in turn through the opening corners and moved to fifth.
Behind her, Tina Hausmann found herself out on the opening lap for the second race in a row. Locking up into Turn 1, Lola Lovinfosse tagged the Aston Martin car ahead, forcing her to retire with a puncture. Lovinfosse later received a 10 second time penalty.
On lap 5, Weug dispatched the Hamda Al Qubaisi, but found her mirrors full of a train of cars behind from P6 to P13. Two laps later, Lovinfosse gambled on another move as Nobels left the door open, with the two running side-by-side.
Bustamante’s hold over P2 had a momentary scare, as Pin closed right in on her tail. However, the Filipina racer kept up her pace to break the slipstream advantage to the Mercedes driver behind.
At the tail end of the top 10, Block hunted down her first points of her F1 Academy campaign. Eyeing a move on Carrie Schreiner in 10th, the Williams went in too deep, allowing Emely De Heus to capitalise and overtake the American driver.
Jessica Edgar was on the march as she overtook Marti for seventh. However, the Spainard wasn’t giving up, diving up the inside of Turn 1 but she overshot the corner and allowing the American Express driver to cutback through. However, Edgar’s race unravelled a few corners later, losing the rear through Turns 6 and 7 and spinning wide over the runoff.
Completing her 27th tour of the Miami circuit, Pulling brought home a comfortable second win of the season. The full top 10 are- P1: Pulling, P2: Bustamante, P3: Pin, P4: Chambers, P5: Weug, P6: H Qubaisi, P7: Marti, P8: A Qubaisi, P9: Schreiner and P10: Block.
Now we have a little wait till the next round, which is Round 3 and we head to Barcelona on the 21st to 23rd of June.
F1 Academy has announced that American racer Courtney Crone will join the grid as the Wild Card entry for Round 2 of the F1 Academy season in Miami, in a deal that will see her team up with reigning Teams’ Champions PREMA Racing and shoppable entertainment retailer QVC.
The Wild Card initiative, introduced to help strengthen the talent pool in the regions where F1 Academy races, sees Wild Card entries presented by partners at select rounds of the calendar.
Crone will take to the track at the Miami International Autodrome in a QVC-branded livery and race suit as the series takes its place alongside Formula 1.
The 23 year old driver’s preparation for the entry began two weeks ago in Zandvoort as she got behind the wheel of an F1 Academy car for the first time as part of a two-day Official test event.
Hailing from California, Crone started racing karts at 3 year old and has achieved success in multiple racing disciplines including Sprint Cars, LMP3 prototypes, speedway motorcycles, and most recently Lamborghini Super Trofeo.
The Wild Card entries are designed to promote regional talent and show young women in all our race locations that there is a clear pathway into our sport for anyone who is committed and talented. We’ve had a huge amount of interest in the Wild Card since it was introduced in Jeddah and I’d like to thank QVC for supporting our vision and joining us to present our Wild Card entry, Courtney Crone, for the second round of our season alongside Formula 1 at the Miami Grand Prix. Susie Wolff, MBE, F1 Academy Managing Director.
It’s a huge opportunity that F1 ACADEMY is giving drivers through Wild Card entries, especially in America. It can be difficult for young girls from outside Europe to know how to get into international series like this, and the support that I’ve been given by F1 ACADEMY, and the PREMA Racing team, has been hugely positive for me. I’d also like to say thank you to QVC for their support of the Wild Card initiative here in Miami. I think this is an amazing opportunity to grow both this series and the sport. Courtney Crone, speaking about being the F1 Academy Wild Card.
QVC is a leader in live shoppable entertainment, bringing our customers — largely women over the age of 50 — to unexpected places to discover new finds and experiences. Our new Age of Possibility campaign is all about supporting our customers to live their best and most empowered lives. F1 has been innovating and influencing live sports for more than 70 years. The launch of the all-female driver category, F1 ACADEMY, is a testament to their commitment of elevating women in the sport and we are proud to support this vision and Courtney Crone in the race. Annette Dunleavey, VP, Brand Marketing from QVC said.
Doriane Pin led from the front and never looked back as she claimed her first F1 Academy victory. Alpine’s Abbi Pulling fended off Maya Weug early advances with a podium in second and retained the bonus point for the fastest lap.
Following an extra formation lap, Pin nailed a textbook getaway at lights out to lead comfortably into Turn 1 from Pulling and Weug. Lovinfosse managed to get the better of Bianca Bustamante off the line, demoting the McLaren driver to sixth.
After starting eighth, Chloe Chambers quickly made up ground, finding her way past Lia Block on lap 2. Immediately piling the pressure on the second ART Grand Prix car of Bustamante.
Tina Hausmann, Aurelia Nobels and Jessica Edgar went three wide down into Turn 1, but it was the Aston Martin car of Hausmann that emerged in front in ninth. Out front, Pin’s 1.2 second lead evaporated at the appearance of the Safety Car on lap 3. A nudge from Amna Al Qubaisi at Turn 4 sent Reema Juffali into a spin, but both were able to pit and rejoin the race.
Block was forced to go on the defensive, being hunted down by Hausmann. The pair locked up, going deep out of the final corner and gifting Jessica Edgar the chance to sneak her way through to eighth.
In the battle for the final points-paying position, Hamda Al Qubaisi got a good run on Nobels down into the final corner, but the PUMA driver defended hard. A mistake on the next lap gave Al Qubaisi the benefit of the slipstream to send a move down the inside of Turn 27, but the MP Motorsport ran wide at the opening chicane and had to let the Brazilian back through.
Block’s race unravelled on the penultimate lap. Comfortably in eighth the Williams driver bounced over the kerb and spun into the barrier as she tried to close in on Bustamante. In the fight for fourth, Lovinfosse tried a look around the outside of Nerea Marti down to Turn 1, but clipped the rear of the Tommy Hilfiger car and sent her into a spin.
Despite leading the race, Pin was not fully satisfied as she tried to wrestle the fastest lap point away from Pulling on the final lap. Unfortunately she wasn’t able to get the clean sweep, taking the victory by 0.848s to Pulling.
The full top 10 are- P1: Pin, P2: Pulling, P3: Weug, P4: Chambers, P5: Bustamante, P6: Hausmann, P7: Nobels, P8: Lovinfosse, P9: H Al Qubaisi and P10: Schreiner.
Day 3-
Doriane Pin closed her first F1 Academy weekend in perfect fashion bringing home her second consecutive victory on the streets of Jeddah.
Pin immediately pulled to the left at lights out to cover off Pulling who kept close within her tow. Just behind, Nerea Marti was on the attack, slipping past Lola Lovinfosse into Turn 2.
The Charlotte Tilbury driver instantly had to go in the defensive as her and Chloe Chambers went side-by-side through Turns 6,7 and 8. The Haas driver emerged out in front after going over the run-off and earned a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Lovinfosse repaid the favour, gliding past the slipstream. However, Chambers locked up into the first corner, knocking the French driver into a spin. Unable to avoid, Lia Block made contact necessitating a Safety Car. The Williams driver was able to continue after a nosecone change, with Lovinfosse retiring.
With the field bunched together on the restart, Pulling attempted to find her way through on Pin on the short-lived return to Green Flag racing. Fighting over the final point, Carrie Schreiner was sent into a spin whilst battling with Emely de Heus. Forced to take avoiding action, Reema Juffali found the barriers requiring another Safety Car.
Pulling was waiting to pounce on lap 10 restart. Despite Pin going early into the final corner, the Alpine driver caught on and stayed with her down the main straight. Weug found herself vulnerable to Marti.
Recovering from her earlier contact, Block found herself back within the points in seventh. Sandwiched between the Al Qubaisi sisters, the ART Grand Prix car lost out to Amna but kept Hamda at bay.
Out front, Pin set out to earn the grand slam she was denied in Race 1, taking the fastest lap away from Pulling on her final attempt. The PREMA Racing driver took the chequered flag by 1.9s ahead of the Brit and Weug.
However… Doriane Pin has received a drive-through penalty for crossing the chequered flag twice and completing two laps at full speed until the Red Flag was shown. As the penalty could not be served in-race, it has been converted into a 20-second penalty added to her elapsed race time.
Amna Al Qubaisi has been issued a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Lastly, Lola Lovinfosse has been handed a five place grid penalty for the next race for causing a collsion.
As a result, Abbi Pulling is promoted to race victory, Maya Wueg in second and Nerea Marti rounding out the podium.
The full top 10 are- P1: Pulling, P2: Weug, P3: Marti, P4: Edgar, P5: H Al Qubaisi, P6: Bustamante, P7: Schreiner, P8: A Al Qubaisi, P9: Pin and P10: Chambers.
The next race weekend for F1 Academy is the 3rd to 5th May in Miami!
Doriane Pin quickly got up to speed around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit topping the timesheets in the opening Free Practice session of the 2024 F1 Academy season.
Keeping pace with the PREMA Racing car, Alpine’s Abbi Pulling secured second only two tenths behind. Williams driver, Lia Block made the most out of her final effort leaping up to P3.
Once the lights went green to signal the start of Round 1, the 16 car field ventured out on the medium tyres. Pin set the initial benchmark at 2:09.664.
Times quickly tumbled with both Maya Weug and Bianca Bustamante going top of the leaderboard before Pin once again went fastest with a 2:06.050.
Pushing it to the limit, track evolution meant there was plenty of pace still to be found. Pulling went over a tenth ahead of Pin, but the French driver quickly regained the time to beat, becoming the only driver inside the 2:04s, finishing 0.212s clear of Pulling.
The full top 10 are- P1: Pin, P2: Pulling, P3: Block, P4: Marti, P5: Weug, P6: Lovinfosse, P7: Chambers, P8: Schreiner, P9: Hausmann and P10: Edgar.
Qualifying-
From start to finish, Doriane Pin was the driver to beat in the first qualifying session. Setting a 2:03.472 with six minutes remaining, the Mercedes driver hold on the top spot remained firm, taking both pole positions by 0.785s and 0.684s.
Abbi Pulling and Ferrari’s Maya Weug were locked in a battle for second, with the Alpine driver beating out the Dutch driver for a spot on the front row for both races.
10 drivers bolted out the pits at lights out and immediately set about getting the medium tyres ready underneath them. Pin was the first to get a time on the board, before Pulling went top.
Campos Racing’s trio opted to play the waiting game, holding off their outlaps until 18 minutes to go. It seemed to pay off as Nerea Marti slotted inside the top three on her second effort.
Reema Juffali has been announced as the first F1 Academy Wild Card entry for the 2024 season, joining the grid for the first round.
Developing a passion for racing as a child, Juffali made history in 2018 as the first-ever female racing driver from Saudi Arabia. After a points-scoring debut season in the F4 British Championship the next year, she became the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in an international race in her home country, racing in the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY on the streets of Riyadh.
In 2021, she had a stint in the GB3 Championship which was followed up with a successful endurance racing debut, with Juffali finishing second in her class at the 2022 Dubai 24 Hours. Alongside this she founder her own team, Theeba Motorsport, to improve Saudi Arabian access and participation in motorsport through educational and internship programmes.
The team secured victory on debut in the 2022 International GT Open, making Juffali the first Saudi Arabian woman to win an international motor race. The team went on to bring home the Vice Championship title in the series’ Prom-Am class.
Last year saw her continue to break new ground, as she became both the first female and first Saudi Arabian driver to claim pole position in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup.
It is an honour and a privilege to be representing my country, especially in my hometown. The day F1 arrived in Jeddah was the clash of both my worlds and now I am actually going to be participating! I’m really looking forward to it and happy to share the experience with my friends and family who are based here. As the saying goes: ‘if you can’t see it, you won’t believe it’. So, hopefully Saudi fans can see that there is a Saudi racing driver out there and it will get them to thinking that ‘this is something I can do!’. It is for this reason I have decided to take this challenge on. This is just the beginning!
F1 Academy has announced that the top five classified drivers in the 2024 Drivers’ Standings will get FIA Super Licence points. This important development represents recognition of F1 Academy’s competition structure, commitment to driver development and the technical skills required to race in the series.
The Champion of the 2024 season will receive 10 Super Licence points, while the drivers in second and third place will collect seven and five points respectively. Three points will go to fourth and fifth place gets 1 point.
A further initiative designed to help strengthen the talent pool in the regions in which F1 Academy races, from this season the series will also introduce Wild Card entries at select races across its calendar. Working with race promoters, F1 Academy will identify talented young women from the host region and offer the Wild Card entry for a specific weekend.
At races where there is a Wild Card entry, reigning Team Champions, Prema Racing, will operate the wild card car in addition to their three cars and offer support and training to the selected driver. Further details of Wild Card entries will be announced in due course.
Not only this, but an additional update has been made to the Sporting Regulations to specify that drivers may only compete in two seasons of F1 Academy. The introduction of this rule will ensure that every year there are opportunities for the most talented young women coming through the karting and single seater ranks to compete in the series.
After a positive inaugural season we are making two significant steps forward for 2024. Our top five drivers receiving FIA Super Licence points is testament to the strength of F1 Academy’s on track proposition and will help fuel their progression as they move up the single seater pyramid. The introduction of the Wild Card entrants will promote regional talent, engage with local communities, and increase the talent pool in the regions in which we race which will be important for our long-term growth and ensure we are creating even more opportunities for women to get involved in our sport.
MP Motorsport will be fielding an unchanged roster with race winners Hamda Al Qubaisi, Amna Al Qubaisi and Emely De Heus all embarking on their second F1 Academy season.
Driving for Red Bull Racing, Hamda will be the highest-placed returning driver in the field. The 21 year old Emirati racer fought hard to secure third in the Drivers’ Standings with four wins to her name.
23 year old, Amna will be competing for Visa Cash App RB, having claimed two wins in Spielberg and Barcelona alongside a further two podium finishes last year.
Emely De Heus will drive for Red Bull and will be looking to build upon her top nine finish last year after achieving one victory and two podiums.
We are thrilled to be welcoming Hamda, Emely and Amna, three incredibly talented drivers, into the Red Bull Academy Programme and are looking forward to working with them closely this season. This is a landmark moment for us and is testament to our complete commitment to the future of women’s motorsport. F1 ACADEMY provides an opportunity to promote genuine change in our industry and this is a great stepping-stone to help ensure that the drivers progress to the next level. This is a pivotal moment for women in motorsport and we are excited to see what this season brings.
Sarah Harrington, Red Bull Academy Programme Manager.
I’m happy to confirm Hamda, Amna and Emely as our F1 ACADEMY line-up for 2024 and as members of the Red Bull Academy programme. This means we will stick with the drivers whose talent we are familiar with — all three have already become true members of the MP Motorsport family in recent years. Together, we look forward to a challenging new F1 ACADEMY season in which we hope to repeat and further improve on our strong 2023 results. Hamda proved to be one of the title favourites while Amna and Emely each took their wins. And since we narrowly missed out on the teams’ title last year, we hope to go one better this year! Also, I’m grateful for Red Bull’s unwavering support of our efforts and we aim for a successful partnership together.
Ferrari Driver Academy member, Maya Weug has been announced as PREMA Racing’s third driver for the 2024 F1 Academy season with the reigning Drivers’ and Teams’ Champions the first to finalise their roster.
Born in Spain, 19 year old Weug started karting aged seven, she went on to become Vice Champion in the Spanish Championship in 2015, before going on to make her debut in the European Karting Championship two years later.
She became the inaugural winner of the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars programme and broke new ground, becoming the first female driver to join the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2021. The same year, Weug made her single seater debut in Italian and German F4, achieving points in her sophomore campaign with a best result of sixth.
Joining the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine grid. Weug went on to claim one rookie victory alongside several top 10 finishes.
I’m super excited to get back on track this season! I’m sure it will be a great season working together with such a prestigious team as PREMA in the second year of an interesting category like F1 Academy. It is a great honor to represent Ferrari again this season and I can’t wait to continue the hard work with the Academy and PREMA to prepare the season the best way possible!
Weug on the news.
We deeply respected Maya as a competitor, and we were always impressed by her potential and achievements. We are really delighted to finally get her on board for the second season of F1 Academy, and we think we will do a great job together. Our lineup is really promising, with three outstanding racers and the support of three great Formula 1 teams. We are proud of the trust we received and cannot wait for the season to start.
American racer Chloe Chambers will be joining the 2024 F1 Academy grid as Haas have announced the 19 year old as their nominated driver, where she will drive for Campos Racing.
Starting in karting aged eight, Chambers went on to win several regional and national Championships. In 2020, she became a Guinness World Record holder for the fastest vehicle slalom.
Progressing to single seaters the following year, she competed in the Formula 4 United States Championship before moving to W Series in 2022.
Last year saw Chambers make history in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, becoming the first woman to start on pole and win a race in the series, earning her the “Most Improved Driver” award. Additionally, she raced in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America.
I’m super excited to be driving for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team with Campos Racing in F1 Academy. Having the backing of Haas is going to open many doors for new experiences and it’s going to be a place where I can learn. I’m excited to be going to Miami for Haas’ and my home race, that’s a race I’m looking forward to. It’s my first season in F1 Academy, so I’m looking forward to getting good results and developing as a driver. I did some testing over the winter with Campos Racing, and the team and I work very well together.
Chambers on the news.
As a father to two karting enthusiasts myself, I know the importance of representation in encouraging the next generation to take that leap and follow their dreams. It was great to meet Chloe and see her enthusiasm for the season ahead, and the team thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her at the factory – from speaking with our engineers, participating in pit stop practice and undertaking her first media obligations. MoneyGram Haas F1 Team fully supports Formula 1 and F1 Academy in its objectives, and we’re committed to increasing the talent pool of young girls and women entering the sport, utilizing our resources.
Doriane Pin has been announced as the newest member of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme, with the 20 year old representing the German team in the 2024 F1 Academy season.
Competing for PREMA Racing and supported by Iron Dames, Pin switches over to single-seaters after enjoying tremendous success in endurance racing. Starting her career in karting in 2016, she went on to win the 2019 French Championship female category before progressing to the Le Mans Cup in 2021, where she scored five podiums.
2022 proved to be a breakthrough year for the Frenchwoman. Dominating the Ferrari Challenge Europe, she secured nine wins out of 14 races on her way to being crowned Champion. Not only this, her victory at the 24 Hours of Spa and achieving a historic win in the GTE-AM Class at the European Le Mans Series season-finale.
Making the step up to the FIA World Endurance Championship grid for 2023, Pin became the first woman to win the coveted ‘Revelation of the Year’ Award. Last year also saw her get her first little taste of single-seaters, finishing second in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship with one win to her name.
I am incredibly happy to join the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme and to represent the team in F1 Academy this year with PREMA Racing. A new chapter begins, and I am proud to make this next step in such a prestigious team and with the Iron Dames project. I am grateful for their trust and honoured to race for their colours. Moving into single-seaters was a clear objective for my career, and to be in this environment is a great approach. I am working very hard to reach the top level of this sport and I cannot wait to go racing.
Pin on the news.
Doriane is an exciting talent and we’re pleased to begin our participation in F1 Academy with her as our chosen driver. We have kept a close eye on her development in recent years as she has consistently impressed. The fantastic support of Deborah Mayer and the Iron Dames organisation has enabled her to display her abilities to this point; she has taken full advantage of that opportunity with determination and skill. We now look forward to working in conjunction with Iron Dames, PREMA Racing, and F1 Academy, to support Doriane as she takes the next step in her career.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal.
It’s extraordinary for a young woman of 20 to join the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, one of the most prestigious teams in Formula 1. Since her entry into the Iron Dames project in 2021, Doriane has been a demonstration of talent, determination, and exceptional maturity. Becoming a member of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme is a promising step in her young career. As F1 Academy has developed, lining-up for its second season promises to be an interesting challenge for her. This is also a wonderful and very positive symbol of the resonance and impact that the Iron Dames project can have in nurturing and blossoming talent. We are proud and delighted to be able to continue to support Doriane as she takes her dream as far as possible.
Carrie Schreiner will be returning for a second F1 Academy season, as the German driver has been announced as part of the Sauber Academy for the upcoming season, where she will drive for Campos Racing.
Last year, saw the 25 year old score 11 points-scoring finishes, including a maiden victory in Race 2 at Zandvoort.
Schreiner, began her racing career in 2011, she became the first and only female driver to secure the X30 Junior Championship title in the 2012 ADAC Kart Masters. After graduating to single-seaters in 2015, she made the switch to GT Racing two years later.
In 2018, she secured both titles in both the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East Pro-Am class and the DMV Grand Turismo Touring Car Cup – Class 1. Further success followed when she won the SP8 class in the 2021 ADAC 24 Hours of Nurburgring alongside finishing fifth in the Italian GT Championship GT3 Pro-Am Class Sprint Standings.
I am proud to represent this team and the Sauber Academy in F1 Academy this year. After an exciting first season, I’m looking forward to getting back to work. Sauber has an impressive motorsport history and I want to play my part in continuing its success story in F1 Academy. My goal for this season is only one: to win, and to do so flying the flag for the team, while generating more awareness for women in motorsport. F1 Academy is a great platform to realise my ambitions, and I am highly motivated to achieve new milestones with our team and Campos Racing.
Schreiner on the news.
It is a pleasure to welcome Carrie to the team, and we are looking forward to our journey together in F1 Academy. Despite her young age, Carrie already boasts an impressive track record, which shows great racecraft and a strong ability to adapt to so many different series. We can’t wait to get started and see what we can build together. With the expertise and the support of our Formula 1 team, the Sauber Academy, and Campos Racing, entities with decades-long experience in motorsport, we are confident we will achieve great things together.
Beat Zehnder, Sauber Academy Director.
We are delighted to welcome Carrie to the team, and to begin a new collaboration with Sauber. Both our outfits boast vast experience in nurturing and raising the champions of tomorrow, and we cannot wait to get started. Carrie showed great promise in her previous racing experiences, and we are ready to support her as we go for gold in the 2024 F1 Academy season.
Abbi Pulling is returning for her sophomore F1 Academy season next year, with Alpine announcing that their Academy driver will be continuing to race with Rodin Carlin.
In the series’ inaugural season, Pulling brought home seven podiums, two pole positions and four fastest laps on her way to finish fifth in the Standings.
The Alpine Junior’s single seater career began in 2018, before going on to secure sixth in British F4 in her debut campaign two years later. From there, she entered W Series midway through the 2021 campaign and returned for a full season the following year. She went on to finish fourth in the Standings with two podium finishes, she went on to become a full Alpine Academy member in 2023.
I am very grateful to be coming back for another year as an Alpine Academy driver, and I am honoured that BWT Alpine F1 Team are entrusting me as their driver selection for the 2024 F1 Academy season. This will be my third season in the team’s driver development programme, it’s amazing to be a part of the Alpine Racing family and have such incredible access and support from a Formula 1 team. I am looking forward to competing in the F1 Academy series for a second season and to be racing with Rodin Carlin again. I’m hoping to have a successful year and bring in some good results for the team. I am excited to head into another season of racing on the Formula 1 support bill, the atmosphere is going to be incredible.
Pulling on the news.
We are pleased to announce Abbi as our BWT Alpine F1 Team driver selection for F1 Academy’s 2024 season. This will be her third season as a member of the Alpine Racing family as an Alpine Academy driver, and she has shown some great progress over the course of her time with the team, both on and off the track. She is a fantastic example of how the Academy programme aims to help develop our drivers and support them in the progression of their career, both as drivers and as people. She will be competing in F1 Academy for a second consecutive season and will be supported by the Academy programme and wider BWT Alpine F1 Team throughout her campaign.
Tina Hausmann has become the third driver announced for the 2024 F1 Academy season, as Aston Martin have revealed that the Swiss racer will representing them in the all-female series next year, competing for PREMA Racing.
Hausmann, first began karting aged seven, going on to compete in the Swiss Rotax Mini and finishing fourth in the OK-Junior series before progressing to Germany’s DKM and ADAC Masters Championships.
This season saw her graduate to single seaters, earning a podium on her debut weekend in the Formula Winter Series and going on to finish 10th in the Standings. Furthermore, she claimed overall victory in the Italian F4 Championship’s female category.
Additionally, Aston Martin Driver Ambassador Jessica Hawkins is expanding her role with the team, becoming their Head of Racing for F1 Academy. In September, Hawkins became the first woman to drive a modern F1 car in almost five years.
As part of her new role, Hawkins will be working closely with Hausmann to provide mentorship and support both on and off the track.
F1 Academy is an incredible opportunity for me; it’s an amazing series that I’m proud to be a part of. I know I’ll learn so much that will really help me as a driver, including the experience I’ll gain from racing at seven new tracks in front of big crowds. It’s going to be a whole new world, but I’m so excited to get started. Representing the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team in the series is a huge honour. My first day at the AMR Technology Campus showed me just what an incredible team it is. I am already so comfortable there and can feel everybody’s full support. Having Jessica Hawkins as a mentor is a real benefit, too; she has so much valuable advice to share. Inspiring the next generation of female drivers is something that’s incredibly important to us both. I’m also very proud to be competing with PREMA Racing. PREMA is a team that every young driver hopes to race for – they’re the best at what they do – and I know that they’ll help me develop as I continue in my motorsport career. There is so much to look forward to, and I want to thank everybody who has made it possible.
Hausmann on the news.
We are extremely delighted to move one step closer to the 2024 season by announcing Tina as a driver for the upcoming series. She showed great promise moving her first steps in Formula 4, and we are convinced that with the support of our team, F1 Academy and the Aston Martin Formula One Team, she will make more progress to become a high-profile contender.
Williams, have announced that American racer Lia Block will be representing them on the 2024 F1 Academy grid, as she joins their Driver Academy programme.
Block has already made a name for herself competing in rally, Extreme E and rallycross, becoming the youngest American Rally Association champion in history when she won the Open Two-Wheel Drive class this year.
2024 will see the 17 year old undertake her first full season in open-wheel racing, driving for ART Grand Prix in F1 Academy alongside McLaren junior, Bianca Bustamante.
All 10 current Formula 1 teams will have one driver and have their livery on a car competing in the all-female F1 Academy from 2024.
I am so excited to be joining the Williams Driver Academy and competing in F1 Academy in 2024! This is something I never could have dreamed of. I can’t wait to embrace this new experience and learn as much as possible.
Block on the news.
We are excited to welcome Lia to Williams Racing as our F1 Academy driver for 2024. Lia has already achieved a tremendous amount in motorsport, has incredible natural talent, and the champion mindset and dedication to make a success of her journey into open-wheel racing. We cannot wait to get started on this journey together. As a team, we are committed to Formula 1 and F1 Academy’s joint efforts to improve female representation in motorsport, and we look forward to working with Lia as a key part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy.
Vowles on the news.
Extreme sports are part of Lia’s DNA and her debut in high-profile international competitions attest to her talent and her adaptability to a wide range of demanding environments. At 17 years old, Lia is driven with a great determination and an appetite for major challenges, that should allow her to quickly find her place on our team and in the F1 Academy.
ART Grand Prix Team Principal, Sebastien Philippe.
F1 Academy racer, Bianca Bustamante has become the newest addition to the McLaren Driver Development programme, with the 18 year old making history as the first female driver to join the British team’s development programme.
Born in the Philipines, Bustamante made her single-seater debut in 2022, competing in W Series, where she claimed the top rookie honours. This year, she joined the grid for the inaugural F1 Academy season with PREMA Racing, earning two wins and two podiums.
As part of the programme, Bustamante will represent McLaren on the 2024 F1 Academy grid and run their livery, switching to race with ART Grand Prix.
Her involvement in the McLaren Driver Development programme, led by Emanuele Pirro, will see her join the team’s talent pipeline which has an overarching aim to help drivers progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E.
This is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines. I still have a hard time seeing my name next to McLaren without getting emotional, as the history and heritage linked to this team leaves me truly speechless. I’m so grateful for this opportunity as I believe I now have the best possible development structure around me to take the next step up in my career, and for this I am so thankful. 2023 was all about improving my speed which I demonstrated across several races this year, but in 2024 my aim is to establish consistency and improve my mental strength in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season. For now, my focus is to finish off the F1 Academy season strongly here in Austin, but we’ll get to work immediately on the 2024 season. I’ve never been more motivated in my life! A big thanks goes to Susie Wolff and the team at F1 Academy for fighting so hard for us girls and to give us this opportunity to be the best we can be. Additional thanks go to Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Emanuele Pirro, Sebastian Philippe, my sponsors, and all my supporters for believing in me and making this all possible. I am full of gratitude, and I promise to give it my all.
Bianca on the news.
The team are delighted for Bianca to join us, and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy. It’s a core principle of ours to be a diverse and inclusive team, so we’re pleased to be so involved in Formula 1’s work on the important topic of improving gender diversity within motorsport. We also look forward to seeing Bianca grow and progress within the McLaren Racing Driver Development programme under Emanuele’s guidance.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal.
I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our Driver Development programme. She’s a promising young talent who has a brilliant work ethic and is aligned closely to our team’s values. I look forward to working with Bianca on her development as a racing driver. We’re also excited for Bianca to be representing the team in the F1 Academy series and we look forward to seeing her race in papaya in 2024.
Emanuele Pirro, Director of the McLaren Racing Driver Development.
F1 Academy has announced a seven-round calendar for the 2024 season, with every event featuring on the Formula 1 support bill.
Following on from this year’s inaugural season, the all women series’ second campaign will begin in Saudi Arabia on March 7th and finish in Abu Dhabi on December 8th.
In addition to the hosts of the opening and closing rounds, Miami, Qatar, and Singapore will all join the calendar for the first time, with Zandvoort and Barcelona returning for a second year.
The calendar has been designed to span three continents – Europe, Asia and North America – and will feature a mix of street circuit and traditional circuits, with the racing to be supplemented by an extensive official testing calendar that will be announced in due course.
The announcement follows news last month that F1 Academy will be supported by all 10 F1 teams, who will each provide a driver to the series and have their livery on one car.
I am delighted to announce our seven-round season for 2024. This calendar cements our ambition to become a truly global series, expanding our reach and improving visibility for our mission. We want to inspire young girls and women across the globe and show them that there’s a place for them in our sport, and racing alongside F1 will help us achieve this. I want to thank all seven promoters for supporting us in our mission and embarking on this journey with us in 2024.
Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.
It is fantastic to welcome F1 Academy onto seven rounds of the F1 calendar next year. This global platform, combined with the support of all 10 F1 teams, will take the series to the next level, providing not only the opportunity for the drivers to develop their skills on F1 tracks, but to inspire young girls around the world to pursue a future in motorsport. I want to thank our promoters, our F1 teams, and the wider motorsport community for their support of F1 Academy as we move towards our exciting second season.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
Formula 1 and F1 Academy have announced that, as of the 2024 season, all 10 F1 teams will have one driver and their livery on one car competing in the all-female racer series.
F1 Academy boasts five teams – ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, PREMA Racing and Rodin Carlin – who each have three cars and three drivers, making a total of 15.
From next season, 10 of these drivers will be nominated by F1 teams and each team will have livery on one car, with details on the drivers and liveries to be confirmed by the F1 teams at a later time.
The remaining five drivers in the series are set to be supported by other partners, with announcements surrounding these also to be made in due course. The final 2024 driver line-up for each team will be revealed at a later date.
First and foremost, I want to thank the Formula 1 teams for their support and vision as we embark on this journey together. This landmark moment not only demonstrates the depth of support for F1 Academy from across the F1 community but will inspire a whole generation of young girls to realise the opportunities both on and off track in motorsport. As we join the F1 calendar for next year and host F1 Academy Discover Your Drive events in the lead up to our races, I am confident that we will have a positive impact across our sport in the long term.
Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.
We created F1 Academy to bring about real and lasting change to ensure young female talent have the right system in place to follow and achieve their dreams. Today is a very important moment as it shows the impact the project is having and the support it is receiving from across the F1 community. Susie, the teams, and everyone involved are working tirelessly to ensure we go from strength to strength and continue to deliver on the important objective we have set out together. In 2024 the F1 Academy will join our race calendar, raising the awareness and profile of the series globally and to have the F1 liveries on the grid will be something very special.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
PREMA Racing have announced that Marta Garcia will be joining them, becoming the 15th and final driver confirmed for the all-women series.
The Spanish racer, had a successful karting career, winning the 2015 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy and the prestigious Trofeo delle Industrie.
Making the step up to single-seaters in 2016, she undertook a partial Spanish F4 campaign, before returning for a full season the following year. There she took 14 points-scoring finishes in 20 races to claim ninth in the standings.
From there, Garcia switched to W Series in 2019, finishing fourth in her rookie season with one win and two podiums. Returning for the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, the 22 year old went to score two further podium finishes and a maiden pole position in Singapore last year.
I’m super happy to be racing for PREMA in F1 Academy. I think this is a great opportunity for me to show what I am capable of and it’s great to do it with PREMA, which is one of the best operations in motorsport. I’m looking forward to working with them and putting their colours at the front in this new series.
Garcia on her seat.
We are looking forward to racing together with Garcia as she had some impressive showings in the past. We think she can be a leading competitor in the F1 Academy field so to join forces was really natural. She also has a good amount of experience which is a bonus asset for the whole team.
ART Grand Prix have announced Chloe grant as their third and final driver, becoming the fourth team to complete their line-up for the all-new, all-female racing series.
The British driver will be partnering up with Lena Buhler, and Carrie Schreiner at the French team.
Grant began her karting career aged seven, racing in the East of Scotland Kart Club. After finishing third and second in consecutive years in their Cadet Championship, she secured the 2017 ESKC Junior Championship title in the Minimax class.
In 2020, she became the youngest driver to earn a Motorsport UK Junior Racing Driver Licence in Scotland, before winning the CKRC and BWRDC Kart Sport Championship titles. This was followed by a switch to car racing in 2021, where she drove in the Junior Saloon Car Championship.
Moving over to the UK’s GB4 Championship the following year, Grant finished ninth in the standings, achieving 10 top 10 finishes in the final 12 races of the season.
I am really excited to contest this season with ART Grand Prix. We share the same ambition for winning and with the history and victory that ART Grand Prix carries, I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together. It’s a privilege to join their long list of successful and talented drivers. The F1 Academy presents an opportunity to us female drivers that we haven’t seen before, and I know we have a competitive inaugural grid. I can’t wait to get started!
Grant on her new seat.
ART Grand Prix is happy to accompany Chloe in her first year of international competition. Last season, she showed a glimpse of her talent and determination, which had already enabled her to have a great career in karting. This development corresponds perfectly to the philosophy of our Company, which is proud to participate in this new sporting and individual journey.
MP Motorsport have become the third team to complete their line-up for the inaugural F1 Academy season, announcing that Dutch racer Emely de Heus will be racing alongside Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi.
Twenty year old De Heus is already a well known face to the Dutch team, having made her single-seater debut with them in 2021. Competing in Spanish Formula 4, she went on to claim the Female Trophy that same year.
From there, De Heus joined the W Series last year, and earned herself a best result of 10th in the opening round in Miami. Ahead of her F1 Academy debut, she got reacquainted with MP over the winter, driving for them in the UAE Championship.
It feels great to be back with MP, they are like a second home to me. I had a wonderful time with MP back in 2021, and with the added experience that I gained with them I look forward to putting that to good use in my first season in F1 Academy. I can’t wait to get started for the first round at the Red Bull Ring in April and will especially enjoy racing in front of my home crowd at Zandvoort in June.
De Heus on the announcement.
I’m delighted to welcome Emely back into the MP fold. She proved to be a great asset in 2021, and I have no doubt that she will feature strongly in F1 Academy’s first year of action. With five of the leading teams on the single-seater ladder to Formula 1 supporting F1 Academy, the future is looking bright for the series, and Emely will be a well-deserved part of that.
Jordan's Track Talk 