Having unlocked pace and consistency as the two-day 2025 F1 Academy in-season test progressed, Emma Felbermayr was optimistic after Wednesday’s running at the Circuito de Navara. The Sauber-backed driver had initially struggled to find her rhythm, finishing down the order in P17 and P11 across the first two sessions. Yet with the support of Rodin Motorsport, she and her team regrouped effectively, making significant improvements overnight.
On Day 2, the Austrian teenager showed her potential by claiming the fourth and second-fastest times, placing herself within two tenths of her teammate and pacesetter Ella Lloyd. That performance included a personal best effort of 1:46.456 in the morning session, a lap that underlined her ability to adapt to the circuit once she settled in.
Reflecting on the test, Felbermayr explained how the learning curve at Navarra had been steep, particularly as she was visiting the track for the first time.
“The test was good,” Felbermayr began. “The results were good both in the morning and in the afternoon. It was the first time on this track for me, I’ve never been here before. The first test day was a bit more difficult, learning the track and finding the limit.”
“Overall, it was a productive test with many laps completed. It’s a really technical track, so we’ve worked quite a lot on my driving. Also with the car, we did a good step forward and as a team we looked pretty strong overall.”
Her comments were reinforced by the statistics: across the two days, the Kick Sauber completed the most laps of any team with 155. The mileage reflected both the hard work and the determination to extract maximum benefit from the limited track time.
A rookie season of lessons
Felbermayr’s 2025 campaign in F1 Academy has been as much about education as results. Entering both the series and single-seaters for the first time, she has faced the dual challenge of learning the intricacies of a new discipline while competing against more experienced rivals.
Currently sitting 10th in the standings, she has managed one race win but has only four points-scoring finishes to her name. The flashes of speed have been undeniable, yet the challenge of piecing together consistent weekends has defined her rookie season. The Navarra test, however, offered a glimpse of her growing confidence and ability to build momentum at just the right stage of the calendar.
Preparing for the heat of Singapore
Attention now turns to the upcoming penultimate round at Singapore, where the physically demanding Marina Bay Street Circuit awaits. Unlike Formula 1, which races under the lights, F1 Academy drivers will face the challenge in the heat of the afternoon. For Felbermayr, who has never raced at the venue, the combination of limited practice time, humidity, and soaring track temperatures presents a formidable test.
“I’m super excited to be racing in Singapore next month,” she said. “I’ve never been there, so of course, it’s going to be a challenge in the beginning with just a little time for practice before Qualifying.”
“I think the biggest challenge for Singapore is that we are not racing at night. We are racing in the afternoon, which is probably the hottest time of the day. Therefore, we are facing a lot of humidity and hot temperatures. We are preparing as well as possible for the weekend, but still it’s going to be a challenge as we have never had these conditions before in the season.”
Setting clear goals
Despite the hurdles, Felbermayr remains determined to make progress. Her ambitions are realistic, shaped by the awareness that many of her rivals have prior experience at Singapore, yet she still sets her sights firmly on a positive outcome.
“The aim for the weekend is definitely finishing in the points in both races. Bringing home a trophy would be even better and just amazing.
“I don’t have too many expectations as a lot of the other drivers have been on the track before, so they have the advantage and more experience on the track. We’ll make sure to maximise all we can during the weekend.”
