The streets of Jeddah saw plenty of action as the F1 Academy drivers battled it out in a tense and unpredictable qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Emma Felbermayr coming out in the reversed-grid pole position.
With strong competition throughout the field and a red flag interruption caused by Lia Block’s crash after Turn 27, there was no shortage of drama.
Pole Position for Felbermayr
Amidst the heat and high stakes, Emma Felbermayr managed to secure P8, a position that will see her start the F1 Academy Race 1 from pole thanks to the championship’s reversed-grid format.
Felbermayr, who has been steadily building pace throughout the weekend, expressed a measured optimism following qualifying. Speaking shortly after stepping out of the car, she said:
“Hi guys, just finished the qualifying here in Jeddah. P8, that means pole position for race 1 tomorrow, the reverse grid.“
While she admitted that she and her team are still searching for ultimate one-lap pace, there are positive signs from her long-run performance during pre-race testing:
“We are still missing some speed, but I think race run in Testing went quite good, so I have a positive feeling about that.”
What to look out for in the F1 Academy race 1
That longer-run pace could prove crucial on the challenging Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a track known for its high-speed corners and unforgiving layout. Starting from the front will give Felbermayr a unique opportunity to manage her race and potentially fend off pressure from some of the more dominant qualifiers further back in the field.
With overtaking opportunities often limited by the tight walls and fast-flowing nature of the circuit, the Austrian driver is well aware that the start could define her race:
“And just having a good start is going to be important.”
Despite not being at the very sharp end in qualifying, she praised her team’s efforts to unlock more performance across the weekend and sees clear progress from earlier sessions:
“We are still missing something, but we did some great improvements from Free Practice, and I’m looking forward to start from the front row tomorrow.”
Felbermayr’s front-row start gives her a strong strategic advantage in Race 1, and with the right pace and composure, she could be in the fight for her first top finish of the season. The F1 Academy field is fiercely competitive, but starting ahead of names like Chloe Chambers, Doriane Pin, and Maya Weug could offer her the breathing room needed to control the race’s early stages.
