MAYA WEUG Claims First F1 Academy Pole as Rookies Shine in Shanghai Debut

March 21, 2025

by F1 // from www.formula1.com

• MAYA WEUG finally broke through for her first F1 Academy pole position, dominating Shanghai qualifying with a commanding 2:03.379 that left second-place DORIANE PIN four tenths behind. The Ferrari driver’s progression from the 2:04s to a blistering final time showed the kind of pace we’ve been waiting to see unleashed.
• Rookie ALBA LARSEN delivered exactly what we hoped for in her F1 Academy debut, slotting into third and securing a 1-3 result for MP Motorsport alongside teammate WEUG. The Tommy Hilfiger driver proved she belongs in this field, staying consistently in the top five throughout the session and finishing just a tenth off the front row.
• The rookie class showed serious depth with JOANNE CICONTE and EMMA FELBERMAYR both cracking the top seven in their debuts. CHLOE CHAMBERS earned a solid P4 start ahead of Red Bull’s ALISHA PALMOWSKI, while NINA GADEMAN’s P8 nets her reverse grid pole for Saturday’s opener – proof that this field has talent spread throughout the grid, not just at the front.

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