F1 Academy: Maya Weug strikes back with commanding Zandvoort win in Race 2

Ferrari’s Maya Weug executed the perfect race to win from pole position and, by also securing the fastest lap, closed back in on the championship fight, while it was heartbreak for Chloe Chambers as a technical issue on the formation lap left the American, also a title contender, out of the race.

Photo credits: F1 Academy Ltd

Ferrari’s Maya Weug executed the perfect race to win from pole position and, by also securing the fastest lap, closed back in on the championship fight, while it was heartbreak for Chloe Chambers as a technical issue on the formation lap left the American, also a title contender, out of the race.

On Saturday, Nina Gademan had become the seventh different winner of the season, claiming a remarkable lights-to-flag victory on her 22nd birthday, one year after her F1 Academy debut as a wild card. She broke the spell after missing out twice on the top step earlier this year. Behind her, Lia Block also had reason to celebrate with her first-ever podium after a superb drive to second, holding off Maya Weug who charged from eighth to third, thus gaining ground in the standings on Doriane Pin, who had to settle for sixth.

One day later, Race 2 again promised great action — with qualifying protagonists Maya Weug, Alisha Palmowski, Ella Lloyd and Chloe Chambers lining up on the first two rows of the grid. While wet weather had been forecast for Sunday, the sun welcomed drivers to the grid, though the track remained damp in patches after overnight rain.

There was big drama, however, as the cars left for the formation lap: championship contender Chloe Chambers’ car was stationary and had to be pushed into the pit lane, ultimately failing to get away.

It was a heartbreaking moment for Chambers as she stepped out of her car, retiring before the race even started for the Campos driver.

At the start, Maya Weug launched well, while Lloyd took second from Palmowski and immediately went on the attack. The top three battled closely and were soon joined by Doriane Pin in an action-filled first lap. Tina Hausmann climbed to fifth and Gademan gained two places, as did Esmee Kosterman who also moved up smartly from ninth to seventh.

Lia Block had troubles at the start: she first slotted into Chambers’ empty grid box before reversing back into her own, and dropped to eighth, with the incident under investigation.

On the second lap, Nicole Havrda locked up and spun at Turn 1, with Aurelia Nobels also going off in avoidance. Both rejoined without damage. Just behind them, Chloe Chong and Alba Larsen battled hard for P11, with Chong holding on after an unlucky Race 1 where she had been tagged and picked up a puncture.

At the front, Palmowski also locked up into Turn 1 but held third from Pin. It was Weug, however, who looked unstoppable: the Ferrari junior became the first driver under the 1:38 barrier and began to pull away from Lloyd, who on lap 5 came under renewed pressure from Palmowski.

A three-car fight for seventh developed, with Kosterman defending well from Block and Emma Felbermayr. The Austrian set purple sectors but then fell down the order after a spin at Turn 10.

Right behind, Larsen lost out to Courtney Crone just as Felbermayr went around, but the Dane fought back strongly and reclaimed P11 a lap later — virtually tenth once Block was handed a 10-second penalty for the start procedure.

With Weug extending her lead, Lloyd pushed with personal best times but was continuously pressured by Palmowski. Lloyd’s start, however, appeared just a bit too quick, and the McLaren junior was handed a five-second penalty for a false start.

Prema teammates Hausmann and Gademan also ran closely, with the Aston Martin-supported driver looking for a way past — but both needed to pick up the pace by a couple of seconds to potentially capitalize on Lloyd’s penalty.

The fight for tenth also heated up again as Larsen closed in on Chong for the final point. The two traded positions down the main straight on the last lap, and while Chong braked later and defended hard, Larsen switched back to reclaim tenth.

Unchallenged, Maya Weug became the second Dutch driver to win in two days and secured maximum points with pole position, victory, and fastest lap — closing back in on the championship with her second win of the year.

Ella Lloyd crossed the line second but dropped to fourth after her penalty, which promoted Alisha Palmowski to second — in her fourth podium, and her first in a feature race. Doriane Pin claimed third place for Mercedes, maximizing points on a weekend where she didn't quite had the ultimate pace.

Lloyd was classified fourth, with Hausmann taking fifth ahead of her Prema teammate Gademan.

There was further celebration for the Dutch fans as wild card Esmee Kosterman finished seventh, becoming the first wild card of the season to score points.

Rafaela Ferreira returned to the points for the first time since Miami, taking P8 ahead of Larsen and Chong, who continued her record of scoring at least once in every round since Jeddah.

Courtney Crone just missed out on points in P11, followed by Block after her penalty, then Joanne Ciconte, Nobels, and Felbermayr — unlucky to spin while running eighth. After a really strong first race, Nicole Havrda was unfortunate with her early spin and finished 16th, though she still managed to pass Anagnostiadis.

With two rounds remaining, Pin continues to lead but her margin is now down to 20 points, as Weug becomes her closest pursuer. Chambers’ DNS can in fact prove costly, and dropped her to third in the standings, 34 points behind. Gademan gained one position in the championship over Larsen after her strong home weekend.

After a two-month break, F1 Academy will now pause again for a month before returning at the Singapore Grand Prix on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, on 4–5 October.