As the third season of the all-female F1 Academy commences this weekend with the Chinese Grand Prix, there are seven crucial details you should be aware of. This year’s season promises to be an exciting one, with an expanded grid and a revamped weekend format.
Firstly, it’s tough to pinpoint a front-runner in a spec-series, but many are placing their bets on Mercedes junior Doriane Pin for the 2025 championship. The sportscar racing expert transitioned into single-seaters last year with a notable debut at the F1 Academy during the Jeddah season opener. Despite an unfortunate 20-second penalty that dropped her from first to ninth, Pin demonstrated resilience with further wins at Zandvoort and Lusail, making her a strong contender for this year’s title.
However, Pin’s journey to the top was not without its hurdles. In 2024, she had to sit out the Le Mans 24 Hours due to broken ribs and grappled with a less-than-stellar campaign in the Formula Regional European Championship. But, this year, she’s back with a vengeance. The Mercedes team shares this sentiment, with Gwen Lagrue, head of the junior academy, expressing confidence in Pin’s potential to clinch the F1 Academy title.
Seven of the 17 full-time drivers, including Pin, bring experience from previous F1 Academy seasons. Among these is Ferrari junior Maya Weug, who clinched third place last year and won the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi. She’s switched from Prema to MP Motorsport and has consistently been among the top performers in testing.
Chloe Chambers, who finished sixth last year and was the only driver outside of the top three to win a race, will be racing with Red Bull-Ford branding this year. Other seasoned drivers, such as Tina Hausmann of Aston Martin and Ferrari’s Aurelia Nobels, are hopeful of improving their earlier standings.
Lia Block, backed by Williams, is another notable name. Despite taking an unconventional path to single-seaters via rally and rallycross success, Block managed a successful transition in 2024. Now, as Rockstar Energy Drink’s first-ever female athlete, Block is aiming high. With the support of a strong team, including three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, she hopes to clinch top positions and even the championship.
The rookie lineup for the F1 Academy’s 2025 season is equally promising. Alpine-backed Nina Gademan, McLaren junior Ella Lloyd, and Red Bull-backed Alisha Palmowski are among those expected to challenge for top honours. Other rookies to watch include Sauber’s new junior Emma Felbermayr and three-time race winner in Brazilian F4, Rafaela Ferreira.
The performance of 2024 champion Abbi Pulling in the upcoming GB3 championship will be keenly watched. A strong performance could open up a clear path for her to F3, bolstering the F1 Academy’s reputation.
Hitech TGR is this year’s new entrant, joining the ranks of Prema, Rodin, Campos, MP, and ART. This inclusion raises the grid from 16 to 18 cars, setting a record for the series.
The 2025 grid will include teams from Prema, Rodin, Campos, MP, and ART, featuring drivers like Doriane Pin, Nina Gademan, Tina Hausmann, Emma Felbermayr, Ella Lloyd, and Chloe Chong among others.
Lastly, the format for the 2025 F1 Academy will see 14 races across seven F1 weekends with the introduction of reverse-grid races. The first race of each weekend will feature a reversed grid, with the top eight drivers from qualifying setting the grid for the first race. The second race’s grid will be determined by qualifying and will award more points.