MAYA WEUG Dominates Shanghai F1 Academy Qualifying For First Career Pole

March 21, 2025

by RACERS // from www.racers-behindthehelmet.com

• MAYA WEUG delivered a masterclass in Shanghai qualifying, securing her first F1 Academy pole position with a commanding 2:03.379—four tenths clear of the field. The Dutch driver’s switch from Prema to MP Motorsport is already paying dividends, building on the momentum from her breakthrough win at Abu Dhabi’s 2024 finale. She dominated the session from the 10-minute mark and was never seriously challenged, showing the kind of controlled aggression that championship contenders need.
• DORIANE PIN couldn’t quite match WEUG’s pace despite consistently posting purple first sectors, ultimately settling for second place after a late lock-up at Turn 14 cost her a final improvement. The French driver remains a formidable threat for the title fight, but this qualifying session showed that WEUG has found another gear this season. Meanwhile, ALBA HURUP LARSEN emerged as the standout rookie, claiming an impressive third place that puts her right in the mix with the championship veterans.
• The rookie class showed serious depth with JOANNE CICONTE delivering one of the session’s most impressive performances, using slipstream tactics to secure fifth place, while EMMA FELBERMAYR moved up to sixth for Rodin Motorsport. NINA GADEMAN’s eighth-place finish earned her the reverse-grid pole for Saturday’s opening race, giving her a prime opportunity to showcase Alpine’s development program. With just two seconds separating the top 16 cars, this field is tighter than we’ve seen in previous seasons.

all-female f1 academy, mp motorsport, qualifying, shanghai international circuit