F1 Academy: Doriane Pin dominates Race 2
Once Doriane Pin had taken the lead in Race 2 in Shanghai, no one was able to catch the Mercedes driver. Ferrari driver Maya Weug took her second podium of the weekend, as did Red Bull Ford's Chloe Chambers.
The start of race 2 was delayed due to an oil spill during the previous event. With an additional formation lap and a rolling start, the distance was reduced to 11 laps.
It was Maya Weug who clinched pole position during qualifying. She was leading the pack for a rolling start but was immediately put under pressure by Doriane Pin, who took the lead at the first corner.
While Emma Felbermayr and Nina Gademan were battling for sixth position, Tina Hausmann tried to take advantage of the situation by making a maneuver on the inside. Braking harder, the Aston Martin driver hit the back of Nina Gademan’s car, causing her to spin, which earned Hausmann a 10-second penalty. In sector 2, a few seconds later, it was Nobels and Havrda who collided; the race ended there for them with significant damage. As a collateral damage of this accident, Conte was able to continue.
In the eighth lap, Lia Block and Nina Gademan, still battling for 11th place, made short work of Crone. Chambers tried her luck on Larsen on the long straight, went inside, but Larsen crossed back and regained the advantage. Felbermayr got between the Red Bulls. In the second corner, Palmowski, winner of yesterday’s race, braked too late and hit the back of Felbermayr’s Sauber, who had to stop due to a puncture.
Meanwhile, Doriane Pin maintained her comfortable lead. With one lap to go, Chambers finally managed to overtake Larsen. “Finally!” she said on the radio. But behind them, the two rookies, Chong and Ferreira, were still battling.
The Frenchwoman in her Mercedes-supported car crossed the line, victorious and with the fastest lap time. She was followed by Weug’s Ferrari and Chambers’ Red Bull.
Larsen finished his first weekend with F1 Academy on an encouraging note, placing fourth ahead of rookies Felbermayr, Palmowski, and Ella Lloyd. Chong crossed the finish line in eighth position but was demoted to 11th place after receiving a 10-second penalty for her collision with Ciconte.
This allowed Ferreira, Block, and Gademan to gain a position, with the Alpine driver taking the last point in tenth place.
