One Last Drive

F1 Academy

It is time for the last showdown as F1 Academy heads to Las Vegas this weekend for the grand finale of their third season. Doriane Pin still leads the championship, but with only nine points separating her from rival Maya Weug, and a full race weekend ahead, the title could go either way. 

From the beginning of the season in March, the battle between these two incredible drivers was prominent. While Pin has been more consistent in race finishes, Weug has proven her resilience by battling back from challenging races. 

Looking forward to Las Vegas, one of the most significant factors is qualifying, as this sets the pace for both Race 1 and Race 2. Ideally, either driver would like to start on pole, as this would give them the opportunity to secure the most points in Race 2. However, as noted from Singapore, where one qualifies does not guarantee where one places following the race's closure.

Yet, looking at this season as a whole, Weug and Pin are evenly matched in qualifying. While the Scuderia Ferrari driver does have a slight competitive edge over her rival, as she holds more pole positions, the Mercedes-backed driver has been more consistent. 

Over the season, Weug has secured three pole positions while Pin has not achieved any. However, the French driver has not qualified below P5, unlike her rival, who endured a disastrous weekend in Montreal. 

Considering how evenly matched the two are in qualifying, the races are the ultimate determinant of the championship. Starting with Race 2, as this event carries the most points across the weekend, Weug and Pin have both taken home three victories this season. 

The Mercedes-backed driver had early-season triumphs, with her last win being in Montreal. Despite the significant gap between race wins, the French driver has achieved seven podiums overall, which has allowed her to remain ahead in the championship standings.

Weug has taken the opposite approach this season, quickly climbing back to the top. After a poor weekend in Montreal, which dropped her in the standings, the Dutch driver came back to win in Zandvoort and Singapore, cutting the gap to nine points and denying Pin the insured title victory. Weug also has a slight advantage over the French driver as she has secured one more podium than Pin, and her last-lap overtake in Singapore highlighted her ability to potentially take the championship. 

Alongside Race 2, the reverse grid of Race 1 also offers optimal opportunities for drivers to gain the points they need. Both Weug and Pin have consistently found themselves on the fourth row during these races before bypassing their competitors in the early stages to gain higher positions and points vital to their championship efforts. 

Throughout this season, both drivers have had defining moments of triumph and tribulations. For Weug, Montreal was her most challenging weekend, as electrical issues caused her first retirement of the season and left her 37 points behind her competitors. Yet Weug did not let this get to her, quickly turning her season around and going on a four-race streak of podium finishes.

As for Pin, she has remained consistent throughout the season but has faced a slight slip in the last few races. Since her last win in Montreal, Pin has had to rely on points and podiums to stay on top. With Weug climbing the standings, the pressure has increased, and the gap between the two has narrowed. Yet the Mercedes driver holds an incredible stat: she has finished and scored points in every F1 Academy race, maintaining a 26-race points-scoring streak stretching back to her series debut last year. 

The French driver has shared her optimism and confidence heading into Las Vegas and sees her potential for securing the championship title.

“We don’t have to change anything or bring anything, we just have to be fast from Free Practice and then everything will come naturally. I’m not very worried about that – it’s the ones behind who have to worry,” said Pin.

Regardless of how the season has gone so far, there is no denying the talent between these two drivers. While either one could take home the championship title this weekend, it does not discredit the effort both have put in to have an absolutely incredible season. 

This weekend also holds more prominence as it also marks Weug and Pin’s last events in F1 Academy. Per F1 Academy rules, drivers can only participate in two seasons, and since both drivers made their debuts last year, 2025 marks the end of their journey with the series.

Despite this sad ending, their time with F1 Academy has proved something vital that they “have demonstrated time and again exactly why they’re more than deserving of backing.” While the future is unknown, it is clear that these two have a lot more racing ahead of them, and Las Vegas will surely be a spectacle.

Alongside the impending title fight, Las Vegas also poses a new challenge for all F1 Academy drivers as it is an entirely new circuit to this series’ racing calendar. Located on the Las Vegas Strip, this tricky street circuit will test drivers with its high speeds and numerous overtaking zones.

Paired with the unknown track ahead, this weekend also welcomes two new drivers to the grid to finish off the season. Rachel Robertson has stepped into the TAG Heuer car, with Aiva Anagnostiadis remaining out due to injury. Additionally, in the Wild Card spot, 16-year-old Payton Wescott makes her debut with a striking Las Vegas-themed livery and race suit.

On top of all the race action, F1 Academy has partnered with Hello Kitty and Friends to provide a “show-stopping season finale.” Throughout the weekend, there will be several fan activations and a specialized merchandise collection, as well as a dedicated Hello Kitty Grandstand for ticket holders. While this adds to the spectacle of the milestone finale, this partnership also illustrates how much momentum F1 Academy has gained and how much further it can grow. 

From a high-speed championship battle, driver debuts, and a one-of-a-kind partnership, Las Vegas sets up to be an incredible season finale for F1 Academy. With so much to offer and so much on the line, this is a race weekend that no one wants to miss.

For more information on F1 Academy, or where you can watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix, visit: https://www.f1academy.com/