F1 Academy gears up for its exciting debut in Montreal as the Canadian GP becomes the series‘ 12th venue. With no prior data or experience at this iconic track, the entire grid enters uncharted territory—making preparation and every second of the sole 40-minute Free Practice session absolutely vital.
What to look out for during F1 Academy
Drivers will need to adapt quickly, mastering a challenging layout that includes the notorious ‘Wall of Champions’. With championship leader Maya Weug starting from P10 in Race 1 and Chloe Chambers on pole, the title fight is wide open. Local favourite Nicole Havrda will also be one to watch, as she looks to turn her season around in front of the home crowd.
As four drivers sit within 20 points of each other, this weekend could mark a major turning point in the 2025 championship.
Green light for Free Practice
Right at the start of the session, all the drivers took to the track to get a feel for the circuit. With an air temperature of fourteen degrees and sunshine, the track was at least dry so far – something that will certainly change over the weekend.
Hometown hero Nicole Havrda set the first fast time of the day with a 1:44.759, followed by Alba Larsen who took first place with a 1:42.897.
Ella Lloyd initially placed herself between the two, +0.3 seconds slower than Larsen. On her fast second lap, Lloyd braked and cut the last corner, turn 14, of the circuit – this lap therefore did not count.
Chloe Chambers, who will start the first race of the weekend from pole, set a 1:41.701 and stormed to first place. Alisha Palmowski was right behind her with +0.100 seconds.
Doriane Pin, who is currently in second place in the standings, set a lap time – but not a good one, with over 1:44.000 she was in the midfield.
Palmowski, on the other hand, improved to first place with a time of 1:40.002, while Chloe Chambers also had a lock-up before the Wall of Champions.
On the next fast lap, Pin was unable to improve as she had to cut the final chicane due to braking too late. Larsen had to take the escape road after she was briefly in the gravel following a lock up. Wildcard winner Mathila Paatz slowly but surely found pace in her car and set a 1:43.667.
Halfway point
Maya Weug, of whom we have yet to see a fast lap, limped back into the pits after a test lap – her Ferrari sponsored car seemed to have a major problem. She kept doing installation laps, but always had to return to the pit lane.
Chloe Chambers, on the other hand, set one fast lap after another, with her fastest lap a 1:39.297.
With just under 13 minutes remaining on the clock for the F1 Academy during practice at the Canadian GP, there was a brief yellow flag, triggered by Alba Larsen, who slid across the grass in turn one but missed the cushion and was able to continue.
Red flag
Doriane Pin left the pit lane with a fan still attached to the sidepod, which then fell off the car at the exit of T4 and lay in the middle of the track.
This will probably result in a penalty for the Prema team as they sent the car onto the track in an unsafe condition. Pin was sitting in P10 at the time.
Emma Felbermayr made a practice start at the end of the pitlane as the red flag came out. Presumably Felbermayr did not see the red light and drove out – this could also result in a penalty.
Final minutes
Weug continued to drive installation laps without setting a fast time.
Pin tried again for a fastest lap, but already in sector 1 she was slower than her fastest time before. Even though this lap was an improvement for Pin, she was a second slower than Chambers and ended up in 6th place for the time being.
Chambers set off on another fast lap and the track evolution became clear. She set a 1:38.972 to finish the session in 2nd place, as Palmowski set the fastest final lap with a 1:38.898.
With the exception of Maya Weug, all drivers were able to set a good time and prepare for qualifying.
Final Results F1 Academy Canadian GP practice
- Palmowski
- Chambers
- Larsen
- Chong
- Lloyd
- Gademan
- Ferreira
- Pin
- Block
- Nobels
- Hausmann
- Felbermayr
- Crone
- Havrda
- Ciconte
- Paatz (WCD)
- Anagnostiadis
- Weug
