The final round of the 2025 F1 Academy Championship took place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, bringing an end to a season defined by fine margins, high stakes, and emotional extremes. For Maya Weug, the weekend delivered both hope and heartbreak.
Heartbreaking retirement widens the gap
Before the Las Vegas Round, just nine points separated Weug and Dorianne Pin in the championship standings. The Ferrari-supported driver entered the weekend with the title firmly within reach. However, her challenge suffered a major blow before racing had even begun.
On the formation lap of Race 1, Weug made contact with the rear of Tina Hausmann’s car. The resulting damage forced her into retirement and immediately shifted the championship balance. The gap between Weug and Pin widened from nine points to 20, leaving Weug with a near-impossible task on Sunday.
To claim the title, Weug needed to win Race 2 while Pin finished seventh or lower. Although Weug delivered a strong drive, Pin secured fifth place, sealing the championship by 15 points and ending Weug’s title hopes.
Reflecting on the weekend, the Ferrari-supported driver stated: “It’s difficult to say now but I really tried until the last lap today to get to the front. I think the pace was there – especially after the Safety Car, we had really good pace.
“I struggled a bit on the tyres for the first few laps and didn’t have the great feeling that I was expecting. After that, I felt like we were really strong like we have been for the whole season.“
A final fight for the title
While Weug finished ahead of Pin in Race 2, securing third place, the result proved insufficient to overturn the points deficit. She described an aggressive but controlled battle in her final race of the season.
“I battled hard, overtook Doriane on the outside of Turn 1, had a good move on Alba at Turn 7, and had a good battle with Alisha (Palmowski) at the end as well. That was a bit optimistic from my side but I had nothing to lose and I think the move itself was really good. It’s just that the straight after was a bit less good.
“I’m happy with the race I did. I’m happy with how the team has helped me this year, but also in this race, trying to help me from the pit wall with how I can improve.
“Unfortunately, we did everything we could and it didn’t work out. I think we should all be proud. They will have another shot next year.”
A season of growth and resilience
With her two-year F1 Academy journey now complete, Weug closed the 2025 season as championship runner-up. She finished the year with nine podiums—the most of any driver—and established herself as one of the standout performers in the series.
“I think I’ve shown what type of driver I am over these two seasons,” Weug expressed. “Unfortunately, racing can be very cruel and it has been many times this year, especially in Montreal and yesterday. It also had a lot of ups, and that’s what racing is about. I think I’ve grown a lot over these two years. I wish all the best to the team, and let’s see what we do after this.
Weug also paid tribute to her championship rival, praising both Pin’s performance and the quality of their on-track battles.
“Pin did a great job. It was always very fair racing between us two. They all did a great job and I think the most important thing is we raced very hard against each other, but at the same time we were very fair. It gave a good show to everyone today, and also last season and this season. She also deserves it and I wish her the best in her career.”
With the 2025 F1 Academy season now complete, both Pin and Weug leave the championship having demonstrated exceptional talent, maturity, and racecraft—qualities that suggest their careers are only just beginning.
