Australian driver Joanne Ciconte is preparing for one of the most challenging weekends of her rookie F1 Academy season as the series heads to the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. The 16-year-old MP Motorsport driver currently sits 16th in the standings with four points. With two rounds left, Singapore and Las Vegas, Ciconte is aiming to end her first year in the series on a high.
Excitement for Singapore
Ciconte highlighted that the Singapore weekend holds special meaning.
“I’m super excited for Singapore. It’s the closest race to home and knowing that there’s going to be Aussies in the crowd supporting means so much to me.”
Reflecting on her season so far, Ciconte admitted that every race weekend has been part of the development process.
“Being my rookie season, everything has been a huge learning curve, but heading into the penultimate round makes me want to finish the year strong and make the most out of the experience. After experiencing my first street circuit in Jeddah, I’m really looking forward to feeling that sensation only street circuits can bring.”
In Saudi Arabia, Ciconte finished 11th in Race 1 and 9th in Race 2, scoring her first points of her F1 Academy campaign. She later scored more points in Montreal, finishing 9th in Race 3.
Building from setbacks
Ciconte has also faced several DNFs across Shanghai, Miami, and Canada. Most recently, in Zandvoort, she finished 14th and 13th after struggling to find pace. However, she acknowledged the challenges while focusing on progress.
“Zandvoort was definitely a tough one, but that’s part of racing. You take the setbacks, learn from them, and move forward. For Singapore, I’m really focused on putting everything together and hopefully fighting for the points.”
She added, “I know that it won’t be easy, but I feel confident that if I execute well and adapt quickly, we can have a strong weekend.”
Marina Bay Street Circuit challenges
Marina Bay Street Circuit is considered one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, with its 5.053km layout, tight walls, and humid conditions. Racing here will present a unique challenge in which Ciconte expects to test both her precision and endurance.
“From everything I’ve seen and what I’ve fone on the sim, the Marina Bay Street Circuit is going to be really challenging,” she admitted. “It’s a street circuit, so it’s super tight and unforgiving; there’s no room for error.”
Beyond the technical challenge, Singapore’s climate will add to the difficulty. “Then you’ve got the heat and humidity on top, which will be another hurdle to jump over. It’s definitely going to be a test both physically and on the mental side of things, but that’s what makes it a really exciting weekend.”
For Ciconte, preparation has been largely simulator-based, with feedback from teammate Maya Weug, who is the only current MP Motorsport driver who has competed on this circuit. Therefore, Ciconte stressed that execution under pressure will be key.
“It’s honestly difficult. On the sim, I realised how much precision you need. Putting a lap together without a mistake is my biggest challenge considering my experience, but that’s what makes it so rewarding when you get it right.”
