Maya Weug has closed the gap to championship leader Doriane Pin in the standings after a closely contested weekend at the 2025 F1 Academy Singapore Grand Prix. It was an action-packed weekend, with Lia Block securing a maiden win in F1 Academy and 16-year-old Lisa Billard exhibiting her potential in qualifying. Pin will surely be looking behind her in the championship before the finale in Las Vegas.
The Paddock Headlines
- Maya Weug’s last lap overtake on Doriane Pin ensured victory from pole after initially losing the lead on the opening lap of the second race.
- Weug reduced the gap to Pin in the championship, as the title will be decided in Las Vegas.
- Lia Block won Race 1 and grasped her maiden win in F1 Academy after securing her first podium in Zandvoort.
- 16-year-old Lisa Billard shocked the paddock in qualifying, but could not convert in either race.
- Alisha Palmowski’s challenging weekend, stemming from a crash in qualifying.
- Megan Bruce replaced an injured Aiva Anagnostiadis, who broke her foot during training last week.
- Double DNF for Nicole Havrda, who brought out the safety car in both races.
Free Practice – Pin Prevails Over Weug
Doriane Pin topped practice ahead of her championship rivals, leading the standings heading into the season’s penultimate weekend.
The 21-year-old Frenchwoman beat Maya Weug by +0.022 seconds, with a 2:03.944 lap time, as the Mercedes-supported Prema Racing driver prepared to fend off her closest rival.
Chloe Chambers, another strong title contender, trailed Alisha Palmowski in fourth. Ella Lloyd and Nina Gademan, who are both still mathematically in contention alongside Palmowski, finished in fifth and ninth, respectively.
It was Palmowski’s first time driving around Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit, and the 19-year-old Brit felt “really happy” with her third-place finish.
“It was a really good session. Obviously, my first time at the track, so just getting up to speed learning the circuit. I’m a big fan, it’s a really technical circuit, so it’s a big challenge.
“But we’ve got a great balance in the car. It was not at all the perfect lap for me, so we’ve got a lot of time still to unlock. Hopefully we can make that step forward for Qualifying.” – Alisha Palmowski, Red Bull x Campos Racing
Rafaela Ferreira’s practice came to an early end after smoke appeared from the rear of her Racing Bull. Ultimately, the Brazilian did not finish the session as her Campos team could not get her back on track.
Disappointment for Rafaela Ferreira who is out of the car and unable to take part in this weekend's only practice session. #F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/I1p6QW5yZj
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) October 3, 2025
There was a brief moment of drama mid-way through the session when wildcard Lisa Billard lost control of her Hitech on the final corner. The 16-year-old finished the session in sixth, 0.096 seconds behind Lloyd – a remarkable result for the young French driver.
Pin and Weug jostled between each other for the top spot throughout practice, but the championship leader prevailed by the end of the session.
A Fresh Face on the Grid
It was a debut F1 Academy appearance for Megan Bruce, who replaced Aiva Anagnostiadis after suffering a broken foot in training last week.
The 20-year-old Brit had to swap a trip to Donnington Park with GB4 for an international excursion to Singapore.
Bruce currently sits 16th in the GB4 standings for KMR Sport, after accumulating 113 points, but she will miss the final race of the championship.
The rookie faced some issues with her Hitech, which prematurely concluded her session, as she finished down in 17th.
Qualifying – Weug on Top in Tight Contest for Pole
Maya Weug grasped pole position, dismissing doubts over whether the Ferrari Academy driver could close the gap to Doriane Pin in Singapore.
She beat her French counterpart by 0.042 seconds, producing a lap time of 2:03.543, exhibiting how closely these two have fought over the weekend.
Chloe Chambers claimed third, with Ella Lloyd’s time over half a second from the American’s, which was good enough for fourth.
Wildcard Put on a Show
Lisa Billard enjoyed a short spell at the top of the time sheets mid-way through the session, but fellow Frenchwoman Pin leapfrogged her by 0.792 seconds.
Chloe Chambers, Ella Lloyd and Weug followed, setting faster times than the 16-year-old, but took back second with another blistering lap with over 16 minutes to go. Pin was still under half a second faster than the rest of the field.
Palmowski’s Quali Disaster
After setting an initial time, Alisha Palmowski hit the wall with under 24 minutes on the clock, damaging the left rear of her Red Bull-sponsored Campos. She subsequently started both races from the back of the pack.
A brush with the wall for Alisha Palmowski brings out the red flag. 🔴#F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/cn45AsVjU0
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) October 3, 2025
Ella Lloyd almost replicated Palmowski’s misfortune at the same corner, where she clipped her left rear tyre against the barrier.
Race 1 – Block’s Maiden F1 Academy Victory
Lia Block won her first race in Singapore after securing her first podium in F1 Academy in Zandvoort.
Block started on pole alongside Nobels, with the top eight qualifiers being reversed. The 19-year-old American did not get off the line well, allowing Nobels down the inside of turn one, but they both went off and the Williams Academy driver retained the lead – a position she did not cede for the remainder of the race.
Maya Weug battled to second after starting in eighth, with Doriane Pin struggling to replicate, finishing fifth.
Chloe Chambers completed the podium, with Aurelia Nobels behind, separating the American and the championship leader.
Weug Closes Gap to Pin After Remarkable Drive
Maya Weug had a fantastic start from eighth on the grid, passing Ella Lloyd for fifth place. Doriane Pin could not match her championship rival’s intensity, as she was stuck in seventh for the opening stages of the race.
Amidst the chaos at the front, Nicole Havrda made contact with the wall on the first lap, bringing out the safety car. She was taken to Singapore General Hospital for precautionary checks following the incident.
🚨SC is out. Race control pressing reset. #F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/WO2AByKjoW
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) October 4, 2025
A mighty restart meant Weug climbed to third as she chased Block and Nobels to reduce the deficit to the championship leader in the standings.
Only 20 points separated the two Frenchwomen before the Singapore weekend, but the MP Motorsport driver’s mighty drive has certainly applied pressure to her Prema rival.
Unforgiving DNFs
Lisa Billard started fourth in the race, but soon found herself in 16th after the safety car caused by the Havrda incident. She later retired from the race after smoke appeared from the rear of her Hitech.
Simultaneously with Billard’s retirement, Palmowski’s Red Bull made bizarre contact with the barriers, as her car could not turn under braking. She started the race from the back following a disappointing qualifying on Friday.
🚨Safety Car deployed once more in Singapore.
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) October 4, 2025
Alisha Palmowski and Lisa Billard are out of the race in separate incidents. #F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/q3ahl8KObS
Rafaela Ferreira struggled throughout the race, trailing at the rear of the field. She stopped twice on track but managed to keep her car going and found herself over a minute from the leaders by lap 12. She retired on the penultimate lap, as the Brazilian’s disappointing weekend continued.
Race 2 – Weug’s Last Lap Overtake Secures Victory
Maya Weug retook the lead on the final lap to beat her championship rival Doriane Pin in the second race in Singapore.
Pin initially overtook Weug for the lead going into the first corner on the opening lap, after getting a better launch off the line.
Ella Lloyd progressed to third after stealing the position from Chloe Chambers early on in the race. The American finished 11th after a late gamble for wet tyres, which did not pay off.
Lia Block went from winning the first race to tumbling down the order to 18th after narrowly avoiding the barriers – she started the race in eighth.
A safety car was deployed following another Nicole Havrda incident, where the Canadian found the barriers, but Pin and Weug stayed out on the slick tyres.
Palmowski’s Redemption Attempt Turned Sour
Alisha Palmowski attempted to rectify her miserable weekend on lap four by fighting Joanne Ciconte for 11th, but she went wide into turn one and lost three places.
The 19-year-old fought back to 10th, but a weather intervention on lap eight almost changed the complexion of the race. Palmowski blinked first, with Campos racing taking a gamble, and was required to reduce a 40-second deficit to the leaders in the closing stages of the race.
A late safety car was a beacon of hope for the British driver, but the leaders did not come into pit lane. This was ultimately the best strategy, as Palmowski slumped back down to 15th.
The Championship Picture – Weug Closes Gap to Pin Ahead of Las Vegas Finale
Maya Weug has closed the gap to championship leader Doriane Pin after beating her French rival to the line on the last lap of the second race.
The gap has reduced to nine before the final round in Las Vegas next month, with both Weug and Pin eying up their first F1 Academy title.
Ella Lloyd leapfrogged Chloe Chambers in the championship, as the McLaren Development driver progressed to third in the championship.
Alisha Palmowski remains in fifth after an extremely disappointing weekend caused by a crash in qualifying.
Despite her maiden F1 Academy race victory, Lia Block loses out to Emma Felbermayr and is relegated to 10th in the standings after a poor result in the second race.
F1 Academy will return in Las Vegas, United States, from 20th to 22nd November for the final race of the 2025 season.
Feature Image Credit: McLaren Racing