Interview

'I should be there fighting for the title' - Chong ready to showcase her growth in F1 ACADEMY return

19 March 2025

Chloe Chong believes she’s got a point to prove this season, as the Charlotte Tilbury driver resumes her spot on the F1 ACADEMY grid after a year away.

Her rookie campaign in 2023 was a monumental learning curve for Chong, racing in her first single-seater season. Six point-scoring finishes, including three P6 finishes, remained her highest achievements, before spending the following season competing in British F4.

Reflecting on the growth she’s enjoyed over the previous two years, Chong is optimistic that she can translate that progress into improved results on track.

“2023 was a season of learning everything, learning about the paddock, learning about the car,” she summarised. “In general, I was quite happy with how that season went and when I went away in 2024, I think I took all those tools and developed them in F4.

“Unfortunately, I feel like in some ways I didn't get to prove how much I've improved that season. I'm really looking positively towards the F1 ACADEMY season, to be back and to be able to show people what a year away does to you on a big stage is great.”

Chong is confident she can fight for the title with Rodin Motorsport

Identifying those areas of improvement, Chong feels that she’s better equipped now to deal with more unpredictable situations and is eager to take advantage of the reappearance of reverse grid races for the 2025 campaign.

“I think a lot of that came incidentally,” she said. “I learned very well how to deal with cold tyres and cold weather. I also learned how to drive really well in the rain. In the rain, we're always very strong and I felt like I've developed a lot in that sense.

“So I'm just being put in risky situations and the racing in the F4 series really brings out some good racing in me. It shows that I can definitely fight my way through the grid, so I think those reverse grid races in F1 ACADEMY are going to suit me and the team very well.”

Teaming up with Rodin Motorsport, the pair enjoyed a successful time during pre-season testing in Shanghai. Recording two top-five times across her 152 laps of running, Chong feels that she’s readjusted well and that should stand her in good stead for the race weekend ahead.

“It’s really exceeded my expectations,” the 17-year-old remarked. “In pre-season testing, I came here just expecting to get back into the use of the car. It's a lot different the tyre and some of the geometry changes with the car compared to what I've driven last year, so that was the most important thing for me.

The British driver finished with the second-fastest time of the opening test session in Shanghai

“Coming away with a couple of top-fives in testing and always coming in after the session being well within the top five is a very good thing to take away and it's going to make the race weekend very exciting.”

Preparing to embark on her sophomore campaign, Chong recognises the importance of this second opportunity and expects herself to become one of 2025’s leading contenders.

“Everyone has the same goal I think to win,” she said. “Especially in my second season, I feel like I should be there fighting for the title. I think the results in pre-season testing have given me a lot of affirmations that we can be there.

“If I keep doing the job that I'm doing, especially because I'm only doing a single campaign, I think the progress during the season is going to be huge.”