PRACTICE: Pin makes fast start in Shanghai opener

Doriane Pin started the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season as she means to go on, going quickest in the only Free Practice around the Shanghai International Circuit.

The Mercedes driver made a strong start to the opening Practice session of the year, sealing the top spot on her final attempt with a 2:04.198. It was a 1-2 finish for PREMA Racing with Aston Martin’s Tina Hausmann less than a tenth behind in second while Chloe Chambers completed the top three for Red Bull Ford.

As the field began exploratory laps, it was down to Ella Lloyd to get Round 1 underway. The McLaren driver set the initial benchmark at 2:07.383 despite a brief brush with the grass, before lowering that to a 2:06.155 on her follow-up lap.

Lloyd then brought out a brief Yellow Flag after spinning off at Turn 9 but was able to rejoin. After a leisurely start with only eight times on the board inside the first 15 minutes, Alba Larsen went to the top of the timesheets on a 2:05.821.

Her MP Motorsport teammate Maya Weug then bettered her effort, clocking in a 2:04.970 to go over eight tenths clear. The Ferrari driver continued to extend her advantage to 1.1 seconds with a 2:04.603 as Chloe Chong then slotted into second place ahead of Larsen.

The Red Flag was brought out with less than 20 minutes to go. Racing Bulls’ Rafaela Ferreira made contact with Lia Block as the Williams driver tried to find her way past down the back straight, with the #54 car spinning off heavily into the barrier.

Running resumed with eight minutes left on the clock, Shanghai Wild Card driver Shi Wei brought out another momentary Yellow Flag after a spin at the entry of Turn 1. One of four drivers yet to set a lap prior to the Red Flag, Nina Gademan’s first effort promoted her into second, six tenths behind Weug.

Her time was immediately bettered by teammate Pin, as personal best times soon flooded in. Chambers brought the benchmark down to 2:04.450, but the American wouldn’t remain fastest for long as Pin nudged ahead into P1.

Hausmann then narrowly took over the top spot by 0.027s, but Pin saved her best for last. Posting a 2:04.198 as the chequered flag was flown, the 2024 Vice Champion finished 0.099s ahead of Hausmann, with Chambers a further tenth and a half back in third.

Weug ended up in fourth, with Gademan completing the top five for Alpine. Lloyd was sixth, followed by Joanne Ciconte who made a positive start to her debut F1 ACADEMY weekend. Fellow rookie Emma Felbermayr was eighth for Kick Sauber ahead of Red Bull Racing's Alisha Palmowski and Chong in P10.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The first Qualifying session of the 2025 season is due to get underway at 14:05 local time (GMT+8), which will set the grid for Race 2. The top eight qualifiers will be reversed to determine the grid for Race 1.