Round two of seven is rapidly approaching in F1 Academy. The 15 drivers will take to the track in Miami, sharing the circuit with the Formula 1 circus.
After a dominant weekend in Jeddah in the first outing of 2024 for Doriane Pin (minus a slightly controversial penalty), will the Mercedes driver keep up the momentum as the series heads to the States?
The Track
The Miami International Autodrome is based at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. In a city renowned for its gorgeous beaches, extensive sporting history and art deco architecture, it’s a show-stopping racing venue.
F1 Academy has not raced there before, with construction having been completed in 2022. It is a fast-flowing street circuit, but many people will remember it for its fake marina, which made headlines a couple of years ago.
The track itself is temporary and went through 36 different layouts before its developers settled on the current design.
With elevation changes, uneven surfaces, and a number of tight chicanes, the track will certainly be a challenge for the young drivers. The opening race in Jeddah will have prepared them well; the Jeddah circuit is the second fastest on the F1 calendar. Miami may feel like a slightly easier challenge for the drivers.
The Schedule
The weekend will kick off on Friday 3 May, when the racers will partake in two practice sessions to get used to the flowing track layout. Each session lasts just 40 minutes, giving them a very limited amount of time to prepare for the competitive sessions.
Free Practice 1: 10:00 – 10:40 (Friday 3 May)
Free Practice 2: 15:20 – 16:00 (Friday 3 May)
Times displayed are track times (EST)
Saturday will feature one 30-minute qualifying session, which will set the starting grids for both races. In F1 Academy, each driver’s fastest lap determines their starting position for Race 1. Their second-fastest laps set the order for Race 2; this encourages all drivers to consistently deliver quick laps. The women who take pole position for each race will be awarded two points.
Qualifying: 10:25 – 10:55 (Saturday 4 May)
Times displayed are track times (EST)
Race 1 will also take place on Saturday, giving the drivers only a short break between sessions. This is a 30-minute dash to the finish line that awards points for the top 10 finishers in the same way as its parent series, Formula 1. With 25 points up for grabs for the race victory, plus a possible extra point for the fastest lap, it will be a tense, close-fought battle on track.
Race 1: 14:05 – 14:35 (Saturday 4 May)
Times displayed are track times (EST)
With the 15 racecars being identical, the finishing order could change dramatically between Race 1 on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday 5 May. In the hot, humid climate, the drivers will push themselves to the limit for a further 30 minutes in their second race.
Race 2: 13:05 – 13:35 (Sunday 5 May)
Times displayed are track times (EST)
Last Time Out
Doriane Pin had a near-perfect weekend in Jeddah, taking victory in both races across the weekend. She was challenged by Abbi Pulling, who initially had to settle for two second-place finishes.
However, the Mercedes driver was handed a 20-second penalty hours after the second race ended. She had failed to slow after passing the chequered flag and later explained that issues with her team radio meant that she was unaware the race had finished. This promoted British driver Pulling to the top step of the podium as well as top of the standings.
Heading to Miami, the top three drivers are Pulling (44 points), Ferrari’s Maya Weug (33 points), and Pin (32 points).
