F1 Academy: everything you need to know for the weekend in Jeddah

Last season, Saudi Arabia hosted the first round of the 2024 F1 Academy season. A year later, the entire grid returns to Jeddah for what will be the second round of the 2025 season. A track that all the drivers are already familiar with, given that the teams have been there since the beginning of April. They completed three days of testing about ten days ago. Last year, French driver Doriane Pin won the first race, while Abby Pulling won the second.

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Animation could also be on display on this urban circuit, because in this context, every mistake will carry serious consequences. Unfortunately, Nina Gademan experienced this around ten days ago, suffering an impressive off-track excursion during the second day of tests, which deprived her of track time the next day and provided her with an immersive experience within the Saudi medical service—something she could have done without. For the Dutch driver, it was more of a fright than a real issue, but it serves as a reminder that the walls spare no one. The safety car could very well be a frequent guest throughout the weekend…

Doriane Pin arrives in Saudi Arabia riding high on her victory in Shanghai, a performance all the more remarkable in a race constantly disrupted by the safety car. With 31 points on the board, the French driver has the opportunity to extend her lead in the championship, especially after her dominance in last year’s Saudi round. However, the practice sessions did not reflect her superiority, seeing her at best in fourth place. No cause for concern, as pure performance wasn’t the priority, with lap times far from last year’s poles. Her main rival, Maya Weug, is close behind with only a 5-point difference. Shanghai’s pole-sitter, being the fastest in the latest practice sessions, poses a serious threat. While the Pin/Weug duel seems likely, outsiders like Chloe Chambers, consistent in China, and Alisha Palmoski, winner of race 1 and fastest during a practice day, should not be overlooked. The arrival of promising newcomers Alba Larsen and Rafaela Ferreira could spice up the races. Finally, after a quiet start to the season, Ella Lloyd appears to be regaining confidence on Saudi soil, as evidenced by her fastest time during the first day of practice.

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Une publication partagée par F1 Academy (@f1academy)