The F1 Academy race weekend in China ended with the second race on the schedule, which opened Sunday at the Shanghai circuit: full report here.
The second race of the F1 Academy weekend in Shanghai kicked off Sunday’s appointment at the Asian circuit.Not a race that smiled on Maya Weug, the Dutchwoman driving the Ferrari-backed car that started from pole position and was immediately overtaken by Doriane Pin. Along with them, America’s Red Bull Ford-backed Chloe Chambers.
Rounding out the top ten positions are: Alba Larsen who again confirmed herself as the best rookie, Emma Felbermayer, Alisha Palmowski, Ella Lloyd, Rafaela Ferreira, Lia Block and Nina Gademan. Also to be written off was the weekend of wild card, Shi Wei, who finished Race 2 in last place.
The chronicle of Race 2 F1 Academy in China
The last session of the F1 Academy in China starts with some setbacks with a ten-minute delay on the schedule that led to an additional formation lap and a rolling start behind the Safety Car. Leading the pack was the Ferrari liveried car of Maya Weug followed by Doriane Pin, who – when the safety car returned – managed to immediately take the lead in Turn 1 by overtaking the Dutchman from the outside.
In the rear, on the other hand, the situation becomes chaotic from the very first laps, resuming the trend of Race 1: first the contact between Tina Hausmann and Nina Gademan, and after that between Aurelia Nobels and Nicole Havrda, in which Joanna Ciconte was also affected. The incidents-attributed to the Aston Martin-supported driver and Chloe Chong, who will have to serve 10-second penalties-lead to the safety car coming out onto the track again.
The safety car returned at the end of lap four, with Doriane Pin in the lead, followed by Maya Weug, Alba Larsen, Chloe Chambers and Race 1 winner Alisha Palmowski in fifth. The top three drivers are very close, with a minimal lead for the Frenchwoman over all the others, but the Mercedes driver’s defense.
During the last laps, the American driver supported by Haas F1 Team Courtney Crone finds herself under attack losing her position first to Rafaela Ferreira, then to Lia Block and finally, to Nina Gademan.In the lead group, Chloe Chambers takes the podium, placing ahead of Alba Larsen, confirming herself as one of the favorites to inherit the title that last season was won by Abbi Pulling, along with Doriane Pin and Maya Weug.
The F1 Academy will return to the track for the second round of the season at the Jeddah track from April 18-20, 2025.
Photo: F1 Academy.
