F1 Academy’s Biggest Stories After the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Doriane Pin vs. Maya Weug: The Championship title fight

Doriane Pin and Maya Weug were in a neck and neck championship battle coming into Vegas. With only 9 points separating the two drivers, it really was anyone’s game. Unfortunately for Maya, the battle seemed to be over after Race 1 when she crashed out on the formation lap. In tricky wet conditions, Doriane was able to secure the victory while her rival was forced into retirement. Heading into the final race, I can't imagine how much pressure both girls were feeling. Despite the two of them probably wishing they had more breathing room in their Championship standings, Doriane’s upperhand in the standings and her calm demeanor meant she safely shut the door on Maya’s chance at the title even with Maya’s P3 finish.

The Las Vegas showdown was one that brought so many eyes to F1 Academy, further securing it as an important stepping stone for girls looking for any chance to prove their talents, make their names known, and ultimately secure more opportunities to further their careers. 

Doriane, a Mercedes-backed driver, capped off a dominant season to succeed Marta García and Abbi Pulling in the record books, giving Prema Racing their third Teams' Championship title in as many years. Doraine’s incredible consistency throughout F1 Academy awarded her the much deserved Championship title. The French driver has one of the most impressive stats: she finished every single F1 Academy race that she competed in over her two years. That’s more than most Formula 1 drivers can say and is a testament to her talents in the car. 

‍

Chloe Chambers dominates Race 2

While the title fight commanded attention, the home hero, Chloe Chambers, dominated Race 2 of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. Her performance showcased the talent that led her to finish the season third in the overall standings. With two full F1 Academy seasons under her belt with Campos Racing, she will be looking to move up the motorsport ladder, potentially into the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) or potentially doing something in the Formula E world as she was one of the girls chosen to complete a test earlier this year with Mahindra racing.

‍

New regulations, new opportunities

The regulations of F1 Academy are changing in 2027, allowing girls to stay for a third year via an exception should it truly help their development and open up more opportunities for them. This is something that Chloe very much would have benefited from, and her name was always thrown around as one of the girls that would have deserved a third and final season in the F1 Academy Championship. 

Allowing girls to stay for a third year isn’t the only change F1 Academy will be making for their future seasons. All ten Formula 1 teams have confirmed their involvement in the 2026 season, renewing their support and funding to ensure the F1 Academy drivers have a fair chance at competing at their best. Fans can also expect to see a LEGO racing car, piloted by Esmee Kosterman, as well as having Gatorade partnering with Lisa Billard. Both of these confirmed partnerships are huge for the series and will only help to get more eyes on the cars and the girls dominating the track. 

‍

Resonating with fans of all kinds

The on-track action was one incredible highlight of the season with the entire field being so dominant, but one of the biggest talking points was just how popular the series had become with the fans. Since F1 Academy is a support series and joined F1 for a handful of their races, it allowed fans to get a closer look at what the series offered while also introducing the young talents to a larger fan base.

Throughout the Las Vegas race weekend, we had the opportunity to check out the F1 Academy paddock and the energy around the series was infectious. Fans were so excited to meet the drivers and it was heartwarming to see how much of an impact these girls have on all fans of the sport, not just young women.  The continued efforts from Susie Wolff and F1 Academy as a whole to grow the fan base was widely recognized throughout the whole season, but specifically after the Las Vegas race weekend where the F1 Academy paddock and activities around the city created spaces that felt inclusive and inviting. The Hello Kitty merchandise was a hit and the Female Quotient panel featuring Nina Gademan and Lia Block was an incredible way to give the young drivers a chance to speak from the heart about why they love racing and how F1 Academy is changing the entire trajectory of their careers. 

The 2025 season set a high bar, and the future of F1 Academy appears even brighter. As F1 pushes its viewership, attendance, and partnerships to new heights, F1 Academy’s direct involvement will only mean further success. Until then, we can relish in the notion that the continued effort to make sure the girls receive the attention they deserve, including under the bright lights of Las Vegas, has delivered on and off the track.