Chloe Chambers Dominates F1 Academy Qualifying in Las Vegas Showdown!
In a thrilling showdown that electrified the Las Vegas Strip, Chloe Chambers surged to pole position for the F1 Academy’s final round, clocking an impressive lap time of 2:06.538 seconds. As the stakes soared in the title race, all eyes were on the fierce competition between Doriane Pin and Maya Wueg, who entered the weekend with a mere nine-point gap in the championship standings.
Las Vegas, known for its glitz and glamour, also presented unique challenges for the young racers, marking the inaugural outing for a single-seater junior category on this iconic circuit. The chill in the air made for one of the coldest races in F1 Academy history, complicating tire wear and strategy as the weekend unfolded.
Under the dazzling lights of Sin City, the action kicked off with Ella Lloyd, who was the first to take to the track, showcasing her confirmed seat for next season in her McLaren-backed machine. She posted an initial time of 2:10.951 seconds but quickly slipped down the leaderboard as competitors took to the asphalt.
Maya Wueg, eager to secure her title hopes, notched a commendable time of 2:08.894 seconds but found herself hampered by teammate Alba Larsen, delaying her bid for clean air. Meanwhile, Chambers was making her own headlines, clinching the prestigious Pirelli Polesitter title for Round 7, an accolade presented to her by Meadow Walker.
The battle for pole intensified as Doriane Pin crossed the line, momentarily taking second place just 0.356 seconds behind Wueg. Not one to back down, Pin launched into another lap and, with no traffic to impede her, delivered a stunning time of 2:08.174 seconds, seizing provisional pole.
However, Chambers was on a mission, and she retaliated in spectacular fashion, pushing her time down to 2:07.150 seconds, edging out Pin by a razor-thin margin of just 0.201 seconds. As the session progressed, the tension mounted with both Pin and Chambers exchanging the lead in a riveting display of speed and skill.
As the clock wound down, Wueg emerged from the pits, feeling the heat of the competition. Struggling to find her rhythm, she fell behind her rivals, but the team at MP Motorsport had orchestrated a masterstroke, with Larsen providing a crucial tow that propelled Wueg to a second-place finish, just ahead of Pin.
In a dramatic final lap, Pin pushed hard but ultimately finished fifth, trailing behind both Chambers and Wueg, who remained resolute in their quest for glory. With Chambers leading the Campos team in a stunning 1-2 finish, the grid was set for a thrilling Race One.
The results left fans on the edge of their seats, as Chambers and Larsen will share the front row for Race Two, while Gademan and Felbermayr will kick off Race One from the front row in a reversed grid format.
As the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend unfolds, the F1 Academy’s final rounds promise high-octane drama and nail-biting action, with the championship title poised to slip through the fingers of any competitor who dares to falter. Stay tuned as these fierce competitors battle it out for supremacy on the world’s most glamorous stage!
