QUALIFYING: Weug untouchable as she claims first F1 ACADEMY pole in Shanghai

Maya Weug got her 2025 campaign off to the perfect start, claiming her first pole position in F1 ACADEMY by over four tenths to Doriane Pin.

In a league of her own from the early stages, Weug was untouchable at the top of the timing sheets, extending her personal bests to an unbeatable 2:03.379. Pin had to settle for second, with third-place Alba Larsen shining in her maiden Qualifying session.

The field didn’t waste any time heading out on track for their installation laps, with only Williams’ Lia Block unable to participate after sustaining heavy damage in Practice.

After getting the first time on the board in Practice, Ella Lloyd did so again, setting the pace at 2:06.143. That wouldn’t stand for long, with Chloe Chambers going a tenth faster before her Campos Racing teammate Alisha Palmowski assumed provisional pole on a 2:05.092.

Weug was next to take her turn in the top spot, becoming the first driver to break into the 2:04s before lowering the time to beat down to a 2:03.781. MP Motorsport looked strong, with Larsen joining her teammate inside the top four.

Going fastest of all in Sector 1, Pin set about putting herself in contention for pole, but couldn’t quite match Weug’s pace, settling into P2 a tenth behind the Ferrari driver. Pin’s next attempt moved her closer, to just 0.095s back.

Whilst most of the field enjoyed a short break in running, Nobels took advantage of the quieter track, breaking into the top eight. It was clear there was time to find, as Weug extended her hold on the fastest time by four tenths to a 2:03.379.

The laps were flooding in with Larsen eking out more pace in her Tommy Hilfiger car to move into P3, with Palmowski, Felbermayr and Hausmann all elevating themselves into the top six momentarily.

As the chequered flag was flown, Pin was up on Weug through Sector 1, but couldn’t sustain her effort, allowing Weug to claim the first pole position of the year by 0.497s.

Larsen held on as the top rookie in third ahead of Chambers and Palmowski. Joanne Ciconte ensured all three MP cars would start inside the top six, with Kick Sauber’s Emma Felbermayr seizing seventh.

Nina Gademan was eighth for Alpine ahead of PREMA Racing teammate Tina Hausmann, with Charlotte Tilbury driver Chloe Chong completing the top 10.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The first Sprint Race of the 2025 season will get underway at 13:50 local time (GMT+8) on Saturday, with Nina Gademan set to line up on reverse grid pole alongside Emma Felbermayr in an all-rookie front row lockout.