The Circuito de Navarra in northern Spain has become the focus of F1 Academy this week. The venue stages both an in-season test for the current grid and the inaugural Rookie Test for prospective entrants. Over the three test days, from 16 to 18 September 2025, teams and F1 Academy drivers will gain 18 hours of track time. The event offers the paddock one final opportunity to refine performance before the penultimate round of the 2025 campaign in Singapore.
Structured running across three days
Testing begins each morning at 09:00 local time (UTC+2) and continues until 12:00. Afternoon sessions vary slightly, with Day 1 resuming at 14:00 until 17:00, while Day 2 and the Rookie Test operate from 13:00 to 16:00. Tyre allocation plays a critical role: each car has access to seven sets of Pirelli tyres for the week. Five sets are reserved for the in-season running, while Rookie Test participants will rely on three sets, including one carried over from the earlier sessions.
The 4.3-kilometre Circuito de Navarra features 17 turns and a blend of high-speed sections with technical complexes. The track challenges drivers to master braking stability and corner sequencing, making it a valuable stage for development. Its character ensures that both established names and rookies must demonstrate precision and adaptability.
New opportunity for young American driver
Courtney Crone will not participate in Navarra due to prior commitments. ART Grand Prix, working in collaboration with Haas, has offered her seat to American rising star Kaylee Countryman. The 15-year-old from Arizona will pilot the number seven car throughout both days of official in-season testing. Countryman’s presence underlines the series’ intent to open pathways for emerging drivers and expand its international reach.
Maya Weug sets benchmark
Maya Weug arrives in Navarra with momentum after securing a commanding victory in Zandvoort. Her performance included the second-largest winning margin in series history, at 7.3 seconds over Alisha Palmowski. Only Marta García’s triumph in Spielberg 2023 surpassed that margin. Weug’s success also featured F1 Academy’s first Grand Slam of the season, achieved through pole position, fastest lap, and lights-to-flag dominance in Race 2. She now occupies second place in the Drivers’ Standings, closing in on Doriane Pin, who retains a 20-point advantage.
Competitive landscape in the Championship
The competitive nature of the 2025 season remains clear. Nina Gademan became the seventh different race winner this year at Zandvoort, adding to the list of rookies who have already reached the top step. Prema Racing continues to lead the Teams’ Standings, holding a 45-point margin over Campos Racing. Red Bull Ford’s Chloe Chambers remains within reach of the leading duo in the Drivers’ Standings, ensuring that the battle at the front remains finely balanced.
Rookie Test: Building the future pipeline
Thursday’s Rookie Test stands as a landmark moment for the category. Eighteen drivers will showcase their ability in identical machinery, each eager to earn consideration for a 2026 seat. The series’ organisers view this as a critical step in strengthening the talent pipeline and offering women in motorsport a structured ladder to professional competition.
Looking ahead to Singapore
Following Navarra, the paddock will travel to Singapore for the penultimate round of the season. With championship margins tightening, the additional mileage gained during these sessions could prove decisive. Teams and drivers leave Spain with valuable data, sharper skills, and heightened anticipation for the next chapter of the campaign.
