The first challenge of the 2025 World Cup ends with a win by Red Bull rookie Alisha Palmowski, ahead of Chloe Chambers and Maya Weug: here’s what happened during Race 1 F1 Academy in China!
Following a thrilling Sprint Race that saw Lewis Hamilton take his first victory in Red, making him also the author of the Scuderia di Maranello’s first success in a fast race, while waiting for qualifying that will determine the starting grid on Sunday – thoughts are turning to the opening race of the F1 Academy at the Shanghai circuit. New to the World 2025 women’s series was the return of the inverted grid of the first eight positions and which saw rookie Nina Gademan start from the first box.
However, it was Alisha Palmowski, the Red Bull-supported driver, who took the first success of the year in her debut season.Along with the Briton, Chloe Chambers and Maya Weug celebrated on the podium in second and third place, respectively.
Maya Weug 3rd, while Pin falters.
Reporting from Race 1 F1 Academy in China
The traffic lights go off and the first F1 Academy race of the season begins with Nina Gademan managing to keep the lead over Emma Felbermayer, who, however, is immediately attacked by Alisha Palmowski – match for the fourth position; the two drivers go wheel to wheel, a duel that ends with the British driver, supported by the stable of the two Austrian Bulls, taking the second position.
Meanwhile, from the rear we see the duel between Maya Weug and Joanne Ciconte, the latter being investigated for violation of the starting procedure and because of which she will have to serve a ten-second stop-and-go penalty. The Dutchwoman, who started from eighth position, made a comeback and immediately found herself at the front trying to win her first podium finish of the season.
It was not long before the first twists and turns came for an off-track by Shi Wei, the wild card of the women’s series event in Shanghai, which brought the Safety Car onto the track, which returned at the end of the fourth lap. On the restart, Chloe Chambers attempts to grab the podium by taking third over Felbermayer; while, Maya Weug attempts to lengthen the gap to Doriane Pin, the first declared threat.
Both the Dutchman in Ferrari and the Frenchwoman in Mercedes manage to get the better of the Sauber driver. The action does not last long with the entry of the Safety Car again, this time caused by the contact between Lia Block and Aurelia Nobels in Turn 6 that saw the Brazilian driver come out defeated. The race restarts from the lead lap with Nina Gademann starting to give way and Palmowski trying to take advantage for the race lead, while Maya Weug puts Chloe Chambers in her sights. There is no time to complete the overtaking attempts for the two when the safety car returns following a pileup between Chloe Chong, who is back in the category after her only season in 2023, and Nicole Havdra, in her first F1 Academy.
With two laps to go, the safety car re-enters and it is here that the last major twist of this first challenge of the season happens: Nina Gademan slows down to the rear presumably a mechanical problem for the PREMA-managed driver supported by Alpine; thus Palmowshi takes control, Maya Weug is on the podium.
Alba Larsen tries to overtake Emma Felbermayer, but despite a fierce defense, she still loses ground by relegating to third. The young Tommy Hilfiger-supported rookie gets to the finish line ahead of Doriane Pin, who, however, gets fourth place as a result of a penalty the Dane will have to serve. It comes to the checkered flag in this order: Alisha Palmowski, Chloe Chambers, Maya Weug, Alba Larsen, Doriane Pin, Rafaela Ferreira, Ella Lloyd, Aiva Anagnostiadis, Lia Block and Courtney Crone rounding out the top ten positions.
The last session of the F1 Academy weekend in China will be at 03:40 a.m. CET tomorrow – March 23 – with Race 2, where starting from the pole position will be Maya Weug.
Photo: F1 Academy.
