In FP1 for Round 3 of the 2025 F1 Academy season at the Miami GP, Doriane Pin topped the timesheets with a 1:59.153 after a late improvement. Ella Lloyd put in the early benchmark, but Pin ultimately edged ahead despite a slower first sector. Chloe Chambers and Maya Weug also featured in the top five, with Weug improving to third late on despite a lock-up. Wild Card entry Ava Dobson impressed early but ended her session after nine laps, while Chloe Chong’s late spin in Turn 7 brought out yellow flags, disrupting final runs. The 40-minute session, held in 33°C conditions, saw frequent changes at the top and strong showings across the grid as drivers prepared for the challenges of Miami’s street circuit.
Weug leading the 2025 F1 Academy Drivers’ Championship Standings
Round 2 of the 2025 F1 Academy season delivered intense action and reshuffled the championship order at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Ella Lloyd secured her first series victory in Race 1 for Rodin Motorsport, capitalising on reverse-grid pole and successfully fending off Maya Weug and Alisha Palmowski. Doriane Pin followed closely in fourth, while Alba Hurup Larsen and Tina Hausmann rounded out the top six. Subsequently, Hausmann and Nina Gademan both climbed into the top ten of the standings.
In Race 2, Maya Weug emerged victorious after officials handed Chloe Chambers a five-second penalty for a track limits violation. Prior to the penalty, Chambers had led confidently from pole, showcasing strong pace and resilience under pressure. Meanwhile, Pin finished third and maintained her position as a title contender. As a result, Weug claimed the championship lead with a seven-point advantage over Pin. Furthermore, Chambers rose to third overall following her pole position and fastest lap points. Despite a strong Race 1 performance, Lloyd finished only eighth in Race 2 and dropped to sixth in the standings. At the same time, Hausmann’s consistent form elevated her to seventh, while Chloe Chong earned her first point of the season after a determined drive.
Looking ahead to Round 3, the drivers will tackle the fast-paced Miami International Autodrome, a tricky 19-corner street track, defined by multiple elevations. In addition to the challenges on track, the drivers will also navigate the hot tropical conditions. Tyre management could be key as the 17 drivers, joined by Wild Card entry Ava Dobson, compete for points in the weekend’s two races.
Lloyd sets the early benchmark
Alisha Palmowski and Chloe Chambers led the drivers out on track as the 40-minute F1 Academy FP1 session got underway at the Miami International Autodrome. With the exception of Emma Felbermayr, the rest of the grid followed, as the drivers took an exploratory lap around the 33-degree Celcius circuit.
After returning to the pit lane for a few small changes, Chloe Chong set the early benchmark, with a 2:10.498. However, Ella Lloyd, who won the Race 1 of Round 2 in Jeddah, quickly bettered it, putting in a 2:03.038 just over five minutes into the session. Though Chong improved to a 2:03.685, she remained P2, with 16-year-old Ava Dobson, the Wild Card Entry, in third with a 2:05.076.
Pin and Block challenging for the top time
As the first quarter of the session neared its end, more drivers put in their first representative laps. Lloyd, however, remained top, holding off challenges by Doriane Pin and Lia Block. However, Block improved on her next lap, putting in a 2:01.312 to go top of the timesheet. Pin then improved to a 2:01.312 as Lloyd, who would have gone top, lost her time due to exceeding track limits.
Aurelia Nobels, in the PUMA-liveried car, then improved to P2, but dropped to P4 as Pin, Lloyd and Hausmann improved their times. Pin’s time, a 1:59.931 was the first under two minutes as times continued to improve. The last sector could prove challenging, as Nicole Havrda learnt, with the first sector also proving challenging. Rafael Ferreira spun through Turns 2 and 3, briefly bringing out the yellow flag. She did a good job to keep her car out of the fall, however, fortunately avoiding teammate Alisha Palmowski. Alba Larsen also suffered a moment in Turn 8.
Pin top with 20 minutes left on the clock
With just under 20 minutes left before the end of the F1 Academy FP1 at the Miami GP, Maya Weug finally emerged on track, apparently breaking in her tyres ahead of Saturday’s Qualifying. With less than half of the session remaining, Pin remained top, with only Joanne Ciconte and Weug having not yet put a time on the board. Havrda, down in P16 with a 2:03.621 emerged from the pit lane after having some work done on her car. There was a slower start to the second half of the session, however, with the majority of drivers returning to the pit lane.
Weug eventually put in her first representative time of a session, a 2:00.933 to go P8. Ciconte, who also waited until the latter half of the session to set a time, managed only a 2:03.115, reamining bottom of the timesheets, 0.3 seconds behind Aiva Anagnostiadis. Meanwhile, Pin held on to her place at the top of the timesheet with a 1:59.622.
Lloyd top into the final quarter
With just over a quarter of the Miami GP F1 Academy FP1 session left, Lloyd pipped Pin for P1, setting a 1:59.592. Chambers remained P3 with a 1:59.622, and Weug improved to P4 with a 1:59.975. Nina Gademan sat P5 with a 2:00.008, just missing out on a time under two minutes. Despite a tricky last sector, Pin reclaimed her place at the top of the timesheet, putting in a 1:59.288. She then improved to a 1:59.153 despite a slower first sector.
Despite a heavy lock-up in the final sector, Weug managed to improve to P3 with a 1:59.607, carefully avoiding Tina Hausmann just ahead. After only nine laps, Dobson returned to the pit lane, ending her session early. With no obvious damage to her car, the decision appeared to be a strategic one, rather than one born out of necessity.
With less than two minutes left on the clock, Alisha Palmowski improved to P2, putting in an impressive 1:59.492. There was fierce action in those final minutes, with the drivers hoping to maximise the remaining seconds left on track. However, the session was somewhat was disrupted as a spin by Chloe Chong in Turn 7 brought out a yellow flag in Sectors 1 and 2. Though the session ended under green flag conditions, there were few improvements. Pin remained top, with Palmowski in second. Weug slotted into third after improving to 1:59.5757, knocking Lloyd down to P4.
Full results for the F1 Academy Round 3 Free Practice 1
- D. Pin – 1:59.153
- A. Palmowski – 1:59.492
- M. Weug – 1:59.575
- E. Lloyd – 1:59.592
- C. Chambers – 1:59.683
- N. Gademan – 1:59.829
- A. Nobels – 2:00.006
- L. Block – 2:00.561
- T. Hausmann – 2:00.712
- C. Chong – 2:00.765
- E. Felbermayr – 2:00.940
- R. Ferreira – 2:00.976
- A. Larsen -2:00.995
- C. Crone – 2:01.064
- N. Havrda – 2:01.369
- J. Ciconte – 2:01.862
- A. Dobson – 2:02.392
- A. Anagnostiadis – 2:03.560
