Chloe Chambers started her final F1 Academy weekend on a strong note, taking pole in Qualifying in Las Vegas. To boost an already positive result, her teammate Palmowski lines up next to her. Race 2 will be a Campos Racing front row lock out. Chambers currently sits in 4th in the Championship Standings going into the final round. With her title fight over, she will still search for any last minute points.
The fight for pole remained between herself and Pin for most Qualifying. Due to this, Chambers believes the race will be a fight. The Las Vegas street circuit is comprised of long straights and heavy braking zones, adding extra challenge. Chambers aims to have a fun and enjoyable Race 1, making as many overtakes as she can. Race 2 on the other hand will be a focus on running her own race, and remaining out the front.
“I think at a track like this with the long straights and the heavy braking zones, it’s definitely going to be a fight for the race. The job’s not done yet but I’m halfway there. Tomorrow’s race is just about enjoying it and having fun, and hopefully doing some of my last overtakes. Race 2 is all about trying to focus on myself and drive my own race.”
The Las Vegas Qualifying session became heavily reliant on slipstreams. With that in mind, Chambers was asked whether there were any team discussions on helping each other out. She replied: “We actually didn’t have any team game plan, to be honest. I tried to help Rafaela Ferreira out at the beginning a bit, and then I caught some traffic so had to find my own space again.”
The 21-year-old also acknowledged Palmowski’s strong ability to jump out of her way when necessary. She added that she attempted to give Palmowski a tow before her last lap. Chambers noted she needed to think of the team and herself. Chambers believes she messed up her final lap by being too close to the car ahead. Due to this, she believes there was still more time to be found.
“I think Alisha did a good job of getting out of my way when she needed to. I tried to give Alisha a bit of a tow before I let off and let her by before the last lap but you always have to think about the team at the same time as yourself.
She continued: “I tried to do what I could, but of course it also always matters how the person behind positions themselves. I think I did that really well on the last lap, I actually went into the last lap thinking that I had messed up a bit by being too close to the car ahead, so I think there was still more time on the table. I had a pretty big gap to Alisha in P2 so I’m pretty happy with it.”
Palmowski’s reflection on Qualifying in Las Vegas
Similarly, Chambers’ teammate Palmowski shared her thoughts on the Qualifying session. Likewise, she is rather happy with her result. While every driver strives for pole, the Brit is no different. Although, she stated that she would rather lose pole to Chambers if she had to lose it to anyone. Qualifying was what she described to be a “slipstream war”. She added that judging the gap to the car ahead becoming a nightmare.
She remains grateful for the hardwork the team has put in to allow herself and Chambers to secure another 1-2. Overall, she is aware that P2 is a great result. She is confident that she has a good chance in the second race.
“I think I am happy overall. I mean, if I’m going to lose pole to anybody, I would want it to be Chloe so I’m really happy to get the team another 1-2. They’ve worked so hard so I’m just hugely grateful for that. It was a stressful session, definitely. It was like a slipstream war of who could get the best tow. Judging the gap to the car in front was a nightmare to be honest – on one lap I was too close, the next I was too far behind.
“I think that ultimately cost me the chance to be closer to Chloe, or to even be on pole. The gap was just a little bit too big. Overall, it’s a really good result and we’ve got a good chance in Race 2.”
When asked what she would need to do in order to win, she promptly responded. She stated: “Pass Chloe! Obviously I’d really love a 1-2 for the team – they deserve it and it would be the perfect way to end the year”. Palmowski also noted that with the back straight’s slipstream, she believes the race lead will change multiple times. Despite the desire to win, she simply hopes to bring home a 1-2.
“I think it’s going to be hard with the slipstream down the back straight. I’d imagine the lead will change multiple times throughout the race, but hopefully if we can try to work as a team and bring home a 1-2, that would be great.”
