Montreal Race 1: Doriane Pin kicks off Canada weekend with win

MONTREAL — Doriane Pin took victory in Race 1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, which resulted in her becoming the new 2025 F1 Academy championship leader, kicking off a tripleheader race weekend in style.

Initially, Emma Felbermayr and Ella Lloyd crossed the checkered flag in second and third, respectively, behind the Safety Car. However, Felbermayr was later disqualified from Race 1 after her car was found underweight. Therefore, Lloyd was promoted to second, and Nina Gademan inherited the final spot on the podium.

Before Lights Out

This race was the rescheduled second race from Miami. This race followed Miami’s qualifying order without Miami’s Wild Card driver, Ava Dobson.

Mathilda Paatz was the Wild Card Entry for the Montreal race weekend. The 16-year-old German driver was supported by Gatorade, with plans to drive the No. 8 car for Hitech TGR.

“I’m beyond excited to be the Wild Card driver at Round 4 of F1 Academy at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend, driving the Gatorade car, Paatz told F1Academy.com. “Growing up, I was captivated by the theatre of racing — the energy, the passion, and how drivers carried the pride of their teams.”

Paatz is not new to single-seater racing. She competed in the French F4 Championship and had a podium finish in the F4 CEZ Championship earlier this year.

Chloe Chambers was on the pole with teammate Alisha Palmowski joining her on the front row. Pin started in third, sharing the second row with Lia Block.

After Lights Out

Chloe Chambers had a good start on the dusty track as Mathilda Paatz moved from last place to 15th. Alba Larsen also had a great start, with Lia Block falling back a couple of places.

Ella Lloyd tried to attack Aurelia Nobels as teammates Chambers and Alisha Palmowski fought for the lead. Palmowski tried to go around the outside, but Chambers held first place as Doriane Pin locked up behind them.

Palmowski tried to go around the outside again but made contact with Chambers. The American driver was able to continue on track as the British driver spun and rejoined in 14th place.

Maya Weug was experiencing issues with her car, as Pin was able to get close to Chambers on Lap 3.

Pin took the lead from Chambers without a fight. Chambers answered back with a late-braking move, then the Campos Racing driver briefly took the lead before Pin took it back.

The American did not back down, going around the outside at Turn 1, taking first place with a broken wing.

With Chambers’ wing broken, Pin took first as Lloyd entered the battle. The McLaren-backed driver used the opportunity to take second.

Chambers got the black and orange flag for the damage to her front wing. As Chambers entered the pits, Pin, Lloyd and Emma Felbermayr were in the top three. Wild Card driver Paatz entered the top 10 as Weug went into the pits again for her team to look at the mechanical issues.

Nina Gademan tried to catch Felbermayr for a potential podium, as she was noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Pin got the fastest lap on Lap 8 as Palmowski tried to climb up from her earlier mistake, moving up in the points.

Palmowski, the Red Bull Racing-backed driver, was close to Chloe Chong. The Charlotte Tibury-backed driver was able to defend against Palmowski as Paatz entered the battle for ninth.

Palmowski made a move on Chong on Lap 10, but Chong answered back, taking ninth. Chong braked too late and took to the run-off area.

Safety Car

As Chloe Chong was re-entering the track, Mathilda Paatz hit the Wall of Champions as she used too much curb. This crash caused a Safety Car as the rest of the field were led through the pit lane to give the marshals room to move Paatz’s car.

Throughout the Safety Car period, MP Motorsport was still trying to figure out Maya Weug’s mechanical issue.

The Safety Car came in on Lap 14, with Doriane Pin leading the pack as the PREMA Racing and Mercedes-backed driver made a great getaway. Emma Felbermayr put pressure on Ella Lloyd, as Rafaela Ferreira locked up and was able to use the escape road.

However, Ferreira made contact with Chong as the Racing Bulls-backed driver tried to re-enter the race. Chong was shoved into the wall. Joanne Ciconte also made contact with Courtney Crone in the hairpin.

The Safety Car was brought out on Lap 15, which ultimately ended the race. Pin won Race 1 in Montreal, taking full points in her third win of the 2025 F1 Academy season.

Lloyd and Felbermayr initially rounded out the podium until Felbermayr was disqualified from Race 1 after having an underweight car. Alisha Palmowski got a 10-second time penalty post-race, due to the contact with Chambers.

Ferreria got a five-place grid penalty for Race 2 after making contact with Chong as she re-entered the track unsafely. The official top three were Pin, Lloyd and Nina Gademan. This was Gademan’s first career podium in F1 Academy.

 

Race 1 Results

1. Doriane Pin
2. Ella Lloyd
3. Nina Gademan
4. Lia Block
5. Alba Larsen
6. Tina Hausmann
7. Chloe Chambers
8. Aiva Anagnostiadis
9. Aurelia Nobels
10. Nicole Havrda
11. Courtney Crone
12. Alisha Palmowski
13. Rafaela Ferreira
14. Joanne Ciconte
15. Chloe Chong
16. Mathilda Paatz
17. Maya Weug
18. Emma Felbermayr