F1 Academy: Mercedes driver Doriane Pin, Ferrari's Weug holds onto championship lead
On the back of a wet qualifying session, Mercedes driver Doriane Pin took victory in the first of two F1 Academy races at the Miami International Autodrome, with Red Bull's Alisha Palmowski and Red Bull Ford racer Chloe Chambers completing the podium.
Doriane Pin made the most of all her experience to win a chaotic Race 1, which featured no fewer than three safety car periods. The Frenchman had to battle hard with Emma Felbermayr at the start of the race. Although the Kick Sauber driver was able to fend off several attack from her Mercedes rival, she ultimately made a mistake, locking up into Turn 1.
This mistake opened the door for Pin, who took over the lead, and Felbermayr was overtaken by four other drivers. In addition, she also picked up a damage to the upper front nose of her car.
While Pin built up a 1.2s gap, her led disappeared when the safety car was brought out after Joanne Ciconte’s three-wide battle with Chloe Chong and Nicole Havrda brought her race to an early end.
Red Bull-Campos driver Alisha Palmowski had very strong pace after the safety car interruption, but she was unable to make the move on Pin, who took her maiden sprint victory.
Following her strong race pace last time out in Jeddah, Red Bull Ford-Campos racer Chloe Chambers finished on the last step of the podium, while championship leader Ferrari-MP driver Maya Weug finished fourth, ahead of Nina Gademan and Aurelia Nobels.
Thanks to her win at Miami, Pin closed in on Weug, with only a single point separating the Ferrari and the Mercedes driver, with Chambers finding herself third in the drivers' standings.
Reflecting on her victory on Saturday, Pin stated that she had a very strong pace until the late safety car interruption, but she slightly struggled for grip after the field was released again for the closing stages of the race.
“It’s pretty special — my first reverse grid win. I’m really happy, a good relief! I think we were smart today from Quali to Race 1. We avoided the cars at the start and then the pace was good until the Safety Car.
“Then it was a bit more tricky, but it was well managed. The Safety Car restart was positive and we won, so I’m really happy. It’s good points for the Standings, fastest lap of the race and good for the team. We worked hard to come back stronger here in Miami after challenging races last year.”
Explaining her battle with polesitter Emma Felbermayr at the start of the race, Pin noted: “I think I was in front before the first Safety Car, but we didn’t have any information. I didn’t want to get any penalty for these kinds of things, but I knew we were faster than her, so I overtook once.
“Then she kind of braked mega late, but we were much faster. Then we passed (her), I played smart and it paid off. So, (it was) really good and pretty happy to have taken the lead. Obviously, when you’re in front it’s easier, but you still have to be fast and manage.”
