F1 Academy 2025: Shanghai Set for Season Opener

The 2025 F1 Academy season is set to commence this weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, marking the series’ inaugural visit to China. This event also signifies the beginning of the Academy’s third season, featuring a diverse and competitive grid.

New Talent on the Grid

This season introduces a significant influx of fresh talent, with seven drivers making their F1 Academy debuts. Notably, four of last year’s Wild Card entrants have secured full-time positions, resulting in a total of ten rookies on the grid. Among them, American driver Courtney Crone joins ART Grand Prix after her Wild Card appearance in Miami last year, and Alpine’s Nina Gademan steps into a full-time role with PREMA Racing following an impressive performance in Zandvoort.

McLaren driver Ella Lloyd joins Rodin Motorsport alongside Kick Sauber’s Emma Felbermayr and Chloe Chong, who last raced in the championship in 2023.

Alisha Palmowski is one of two newcomers at Campos Racing, with the Red Bull Racing driver partnering up with RB’s Rafaela Ferreira in an all-Red Bull Academy Programme line-up alongside Red Bull Ford’s Chloe Chambers, who returns for her second year with the Spanish team having raced for Haas last year.

2025 locked in. 🔒 #F1Academy pic.twitter.com/0B6a2cmG4F

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) March 17, 2025

Tommy Hilfiger is backing Danish racer Alba Larsen at MP Motorsport this season, while Australia’s Joanne Ciconte will compete in Round 1 under the F1 Academy livery. Among the six returning drivers from last year, only Maya Weug has switched teams, with the Ferrari junior moving from PREMA to join MP Motorsport for her second season.

F1 Academy also sees a fresh addition to its team lineup, with Hitech TGR joining as the sixth squad on the grid. They bring two rookies—Nicole Havrda, racing under American Express colours, and TAG Heuer-backed Aiva Anagnostiadis. Meanwhile, local fans will be cheering for Shi Wei, Hitech’s third driver and the first Wild Card entry of the season.

Return of Reverse Grid in F1 Academy

Adding strategic complexity to the races, the reverse grid format returns this season. The top eight qualifiers will have their starting positions inverted for Race 1, challenging drivers to demonstrate both defensive and overtaking skills to secure valuable points. The top 8 drivers will be awarded points in the Reverse Grid Race on a sliding scale (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1).

IT IS BACK! 🏎️

More overtakes, more drama, and more excitement on track, the reverse grid race returns for 2025 🏁

Head to our website to find out more ⬇️https://t.co/A3wgy2gAqQ#F1Academy pic.twitter.com/uytqHRLGNI

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) February 25, 2025

Pre-Season Insights

The 2025 F1 Academy field arrives in Shanghai with some prior experience, having tested at the circuit earlier this month. While testing times aren’t always a clear indicator of race pace, they provided insight into how teams and drivers are adapting to the track.

Doriane Pin set the fastest lap of the test with a 2:03.046, but it was Maya Weug who consistently topped the timesheets, going quickest in three out of five sessions. Among the rookies, Felbermayr impressed with multiple top-five finishes.

Hitech, the newest team on the grid, maximized track time with 575 laps completed—more than any other team—while their driver, Nicole Havrda, logged the most mileage individually with 203 laps.

Schedule and Viewing

The race weekend kicks off with a 30-minute practice session, followed by a 30-minute qualifying on Friday. Races are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, each spanning 13 laps. Fans can catch the action live, with detailed viewing information available on the F1 Academy’s official platforms. You can watch all the sessions live in India on Fancode or F1TV.

Every lap counts. ⚡️

Here’s how the F1 Academy race weekends will unfold in 2025. #F1Academy pic.twitter.com/BWhU0tFfIH

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) March 18, 2025

As the F1 Academy embarks on its third season, the Shanghai opener promises to deliver thrilling racing and showcase emerging talent in the world of motorsport.

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