F1 Academy | Qualifying | Dutch GP | Weug claims pole on home turf - Motorsport

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MP Motorsport and Ferrari-backed Maya Weug stormed to claim pole on home turf during Qualifying at the 2025 F1 Academy Dutch GP, full report and results below.

After long break, the F1 Academy grid was back in action on a busy Practice Friday. Setting the pace in FP1 was Alisha Palmowski. The Briton managed a lap time of 1:38.196, allowing her to claim her position on top as home-hero Maya Weug and Palmowski’s teammate Chloe Chambers rounded up the top three. Fortunately for the drivers, FP1 ran in dry conditions before rain arrived in FP2. Rain began to fall early into the session, but Chambers wasted no time to deliver a fast lap. The American clocked a time of 1:37.342 to set a benchmark time for the rest of the grid to chase. While lap times showed little to no improvement, the wet FP2 session gave the field a chance to adapt to wet-weather conditions, with rain looming as a potential threat this weekend.

Time to go Qualifying at Zandvoort!

As the session began, majority of the grid headed out on track with wet tyres fitted on. But, the Campos Racing trio opted to remain in the pits. While the track appeared damp, sunlight peaking through the clouds that hovered over Zandvoort could quickly dry up the track. It wasn’t long before the first red flag flew for Anagnostiadis beached into the gravel trap at Turn 1. Heading down into Turn 1, replay showed that it was Havrda who spun her around as she left the scene unscathed.

All drivers headed back into the pits as the Australian’s car was being recovered. However, it wasn’t long before the session got going again. 25 minutes remained as Block was the first driver on a fast lap. Meanwhile, Chambers reported back to her team and said that the track was drying up quickly. Block’s first flying lap catapulted her to the top with a time of 1:48.856.

All drivers were now crossing the line to complete their banker laps. It wasn’t long before Weug claimed her position at the top with a 1:48.399—with Hausmann and Lloyd following behind. Gademan and Chambers were next to run straight on as they headed down to Turn 1. Lighting up the timings, Pin’s next lap was enough to replace Weug on top with a time of 1:47.784—two tenths ahead of the Ferrari-backed driver. One of three home-heroes this weekend, Gademan’s next fast lap was enough to slot herself into the top three. As it stood, two Dutch nationals were in the top three.

Crossover to slicks?

While some drivers believed the track was still too wet for slicks, Block was the first driver to take the gamble. Similarly, Crone was next to do the same. After Lloyd’s trip across the gravel trap, her rejoin was under investigation by the stewards for not following the race director’s instructions.

As Block completed her first lap on slicks, it was clear that the times were still not competitive enough. Crone, the next driver on slicks and a fast lap, found a great middle sector and crossed the line with a time of 1:48.448 to go P3. Next was Pin, Weug and Lloyd to improve their times to join the top five momentarily.

Meanwhile, Ferreira was lucky to have avoided the barriers as she spun heading into the banked corner. Soon enough, Hausmann was next to find the barriers, but managed to continue up ahead.

10 minutes remained; second red flag for Nobels

The second red flag of the session was for Nobels who was beached in the gravel. Palmowski’s name soon dropped down the order down to P14 as her lap time was deleted for track limits at Turn 3. As the last ten minutes ticked down, all drivers rushed back out on track for their final fast laps of the session. First across the line was Pin as she improved with a time of 1:42.116. However, Lloyd then claimed her position on top before Chambers jumped to the top with a 1:41.524.

Across the session, Block was flying. The American narrowly edged out Chambers to the top with a time of 1:41.511. Meanwhile, Pin’s next lap was enough for her to reclaim her position at the top with a 1:41.263. Felbermayr executed a great lap to jump to the top with a 1:40.543. Last two minutes remained as Weug was back on top with a 1:39.632, with Palmowski and Chambers behind.

Once again, Block’s next lap was enough for her to head to the top with a 1:39.279. But, time was running out. All drivers were now on their final flying laps. Weug managed to improve her time to reclaim her position at the top. However, soon enough, Palmowski snatched it off the home-hero as she crossed the line with a 1:38.873. As the chequered flag flew, Pin improved once again to slot herself into P5.

However, simply unbeatable, Weug managed to find more time as she lit up the timing sheets with a purple first sector. The Ferrari-backed driver took pole position by 0.039s, keeping her championship hopes alive. For the reverse grid later today, Gademan and Hausmann will line up on the front-row.