F1 Academy Brings Back Reverse Grid Racing to Sharpen Women’s Overtaking Game

February 25, 2025

• F1 Academy is bringing back reverse grid races for 2025, flipping the top eight qualifiers for Race 1 while keeping Race 2 traditional. It’s a smart move that forces our drivers to prove they can fight through traffic, not just disappear from pole position.
• The format cuts total weekend points from 56 to 39, with Race 1 offering 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points to the top eight plus fastest lap, while Race 2 returns to full F1-style points for the top ten. Less points overall, but more chances to showcase racecraft.
• This brings back the 2023 inaugural season’s reverse grid concept, adapted for the current two-race weekend structure that fits F1’s support calendar. Seven weekends of proving that starting eighth doesn’t mean finishing eighth when you’ve got the skills to back it up.

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