The F1 ACADEMY returns to action in Montreal with plenty of storylines to follow. From a wide-open title race to the debut of a new Wild Card driver, there's much to anticipate.
Two months after the season opener in Shanghai, the F1 ACADEMY is back on the grid for Round 2 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. This all-female series is making its first of three North American stops, and there's plenty to watch for as the drivers prepare for an action-packed weekend.
Emma Felbermayr wasn't initially pegged as a title contender, but after her stellar performance in Shanghai, dismissing her would be a mistake. Qualifying third there, she snagged a podium in the Reverse Grid Race and clinched the Feature Race win after capitalizing on Alba Larsen's restart error. Now, Felbermayr leads the Drivers' Standings, six points clear of Alisha Palmowski, with Alpine's Nina Gademan in third. Returning to the track where she claimed her first victory, Felbermayr and her Rodin Motorsport team are confident of another strong performance.
Fans are in for a treat with three races scheduled at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. This new format, also seen in Austin, compensates for the absence of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, bringing the total to 14 races this season. Saturday kicks off with the Opening Race, based on the second-fastest qualifying times, followed by the Reverse Grid Race, and concludes with the Feature Race on Sunday — where rain might add a layer of unpredictability. With a maximum of 65 points up for grabs, drivers must balance aggression with consistency to maximize their haul.
Autumn Fisher becomes the 14th Wild Card driver to debut in F1 ACADEMY, representing Standard Chartered on home soil. At 18, she brings experience from the French and British F4 Championships. Wild Card drivers have yet to score a podium, but Fisher hopes to break into the top 10 and perhaps even score points, a feat not accomplished by last year's Montreal Wild Card, Mathilda Paatz.
Alba Larsen and Ella Lloyd are eager to leave their Shanghai struggles behind. Larsen's promising weekend unraveled with a broken front wing in the Reverse Grid Race and a costly error at a late Safety Car restart in the Feature Race, dropping her to P8. Meanwhile, Lloyd's underwhelming qualifying left her with finishes in P7 and P5 — not enough to make a mark in the championship standings. Both need significant points to remain in title contention.
Payton Westcott and Natalia Granada impressed in Round 1, with Granada securing P2 in her single-seater debut and Westcott taking third in the Feature Race. With limited testing at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the rookies face a tough challenge. Still, keep an eye on Gatorade's Lisa Billard and Mathilda Paatz, who has previous experience at the track from her Wild Card entry last year.
As the F1 ACADEMY heads into Montreal, these storylines promise to deliver an exciting weekend of racing. Whether it's the tight championship battle or the potential for fresh faces to make their mark, this round is set to keep fans on the edge of their seats.