2024 F1 SUPPORT RACES THREAD - F2, F3, ACADEMY *SPOILERS*

[Castellet]

The top 3 seem to be in a higher level than the rest, although the big test will be in the higher F3 levels where the cars and competition will be a lot more demanding and physical.

Marta Garcia beat Pulling last year and has struggled at the next level.

Had expected more of Pin this year, but she’s made a few costly errors, but assume less single-seat experience than Pulling.

[Sandpit Steve]

Castellet said:

The top 3 seem to be in a higher level than the rest, although the big test will be in the higher F3 levels where the cars and competition will be a lot more demanding and physical.

Marta Garcia beat Pulling last year and has struggled at the next level.

Had expected more of Pin this year, but she’s made a few costly errors, but assume less single-seat experience than Pulling.

Yes Marta has had a shocker in Euro F3 this year, no points and not looking like getting any.

Doriane has also put in a few appearances in that series, around other commitments, mostly beating Marta but also no points. Maya Weug did one event as well. Yes, prior to this year, most of Doriane’s experience was in GT cars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Formula_Regiona...

I’m firmly of the view that the Academy needs to have a two-year limit and a 21yo age limit. It’s a numbers game, and they need to push as many young ladies through as possible. 90% will go nowhere, but that’s also true of young men driving F4 cars today.

The only other woman doing anything in single seaters is Sophia Floersch, who’s spent two years in FIA F3 not doing much, scored points once I think.

[Castellet]

Think F1A (and WS before) will help elevate more girls into motorsport, but the future superstars are not yet on the horizon - may not even be in karts yet.

To get to F1 needs a strategy and big financial resources, almost from infancy, like Lando had and some of the current new faces and, reputedly, Freddie Slater.

Sandpit Steve said:

The only other woman doing anything in single seaters is Sophia Floersch, who’s spent two years in FIA F3 not doing much, scored points once I think.

Chadwick probably most notable with a respectable year in IndyNXT quick, podiums, win.

[732NM]

Castellet said:

Chadwick probably most notable with a respectable year in IndyNXT quick, podiums, win.

She has an indycar test next week. If she does a reasonable job she may get a chance just from the enormous marketing opportunities. She won't do anything of note, if she can match Catherine Legg that would be seen as acceptable for a while.

I expected Pin to do much better, it may be the lack of driver aids she is used to has hurt her performance. Next year she needs to dominate if she wants to progress in single seaters.

[Sandpit Steve]

732NM said:

Castellet said:

Chadwick probably most notable with a respectable year in IndyNXT quick, podiums, win.

She has an indycar test next week. If she does a reasonable job she may get a chance just from the enormous marketing opportunities. She won't do anything of note, if she can match Catherine Legg that would be seen as acceptable for a while.

I expected Pin to do much better, it may be the lack of driver aids she is used to has hurt her performance. Next year she needs to dominate if she wants to progress in single seaters.

Yes of course I should have mentioned Jamie, who’s having a great year in the US.

It would be brilliant to see her in Indycar next year, best of luck in the testing. I think she’d be better than Legge, who’s really a pay-driver.

As with F1, a woman who’s good enough to be in Indycar on merit would attract a lot of sponsors. Jamie would definitely be sponsor-friendly, she interviews well and is always smiling.

[asfault]

Sandpit Steve said:

PRO5T said:

Does winning the championship get you an F3 drive?

I think the plan is to put the winner in Euro F3, but IMHO they should put Abbi in FIA F3 next year. She’s 21 and has a lot of single seater experience. I’d put Doriane in FIA F3 as well, she’s a year younger and also an experienced driver.

Academy should be pushing drivers up the ladder, not just giving the girls free racing.

I mean the whole thing is a farce anyway motorsports is the most equal playing field you can get in terms of gender. But for marketing wise it helps.

[Sandpit Steve]

Well after nearly two months of long-haul flyaways, we have some of the regular support races back for the last two weekends of the F1 season in the Middle East.

F2 and F1 Academy this weekend in Qatar, full track schedule below.

Friday 29th
F1 Academy First Practice Session 13:00 - 13:40
FIA Formula 2 Practice Session 14:05 - 14:50
FORMULA 1 FIRST PRACTICE SESSION 16:30 - 17:30
F1 Academy Second Practice Session 18:00 - 18:40
FIA Formula 2 Qualifying Session 19:10 - 19:40
FORMULA 1 SPRINT QUALIFYING 20:30 - 21:14

Saturday 30th
F1 Academy Qualifying Session 15:20 - 15:50
FORMULA 1 SPRINT (19 Laps or 60 Mins) 17:00 - 17:30
FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race (23 Mins or 45 Mins +1 Lap) 19:20 - 20:10
FORMULA 1 QUALIFYING SESSION 21:00 - 22:00
F1 Academy First Race (14 Laps, Max 30 Mins +1 Lap) 23:05 - 23:40

Sunday 1st Dec
F1 Academy Second Race (14 Laps, Max 30 Mins +1 Lap) 14:00 - 14:35
FIA Formula 2 Feature Race (32 Laps or 60 Mins +1 Lap) 15:20 - 16:25
FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX (57 LAPS OR 120 MINS) 19:00 - 21:00

(All times are local track times, GMT+3)

[Smollet]

Watching the academy races I find the whole thing sad. Why can’t people except that female drivers with a few obvious exceptions just don’t pass muster.

[Sandpit Steve]

Well that was an exciting F2 qualifying session. Great result for Paul Aron, 0.335 a huge margin in this series. Bearman beats Antonelli at the death for the reverse grid pole tomorrow.

[Sandpit Steve]

Smollet said:

Watching the academy races I find the whole thing sad. Why can’t people except that female drivers with a few obvious exceptions just don’t pass muster.

On the other hand, an awesome opportunity for Alisha Palmowski, someone that almost no-one had heard of before today. (She finished second in British F4 this season). Being 3rd in the practice session as a wild card almost certainly gets the 18-year-old a drive in this series next year.

[Smollet]

Sandpit Steve said:

Smollet said:

Watching the academy races I find the whole thing sad. Why can’t people except that female drivers with a few obvious exceptions just don’t pass muster.

On the other hand, an awesome opportunity for Alisha Palmowski, someone that almost no-one had heard of before today. (She finished second in British F4 this season). Being 3rd in the practice session as a wild card almost certainly gets the 18-year-old a drive in this series next year.

Ok but in that case have a female only series as in football/rugby/ cricket at a high echelon. There will never be a female equivalent in F1 though.

[Sandpit Steve]

Smollet said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Smollet said:

Watching the academy races I find the whole thing sad. Why can’t people except that female drivers with a few obvious exceptions just don’t pass muster.

On the other hand, an awesome opportunity for Alisha Palmowski, someone that almost no-one had heard of before today. (She finished second in British F4 this season). Being 3rd in the practice session as a wild card almost certainly gets the 18-year-old a drive in this series next year.

Ok but in that case have a female only series as in football/rugby/ cricket at a high echelon. There will never be a female equivalent in F1 though.

It’s a numbers game at the end of the day, and having a high-profile F4 competition for young ladies should encourage more girls into karting. Hopefully this means that one day we see a woman come through with the talent to make F1. She won’t be short of sponsors if she’s good enough to get her super licence.

[Sandpit Steve]

F2 sprint underway. Interesting decision from Hadjar to take the medium tyres, if he can run them for 23 laps.

[Leithen]

Hadjar and Antonelli both having a mare. Happy days for Bearman though.

[Smollet]

Leithen said:

Hadjar and Antonelli both having a mare. Happy days for Bearman though.

I beginning to think Antonelli might not be as good as he’s made out to be.

[df76]

Smollet said:

Leithen said:

Hadjar and Antonelli both having a mare. Happy days for Bearman though.

I beginning to think Antonelli might not be as good as he’s made out to be.

Prema has clearly not got to grips with the F2 car this year. I wouldn’t make a judgement based the this season’s results only.

[Sandpit Steve]

Smollet said:

Leithen said:

Hadjar and Antonelli both having a mare. Happy days for Bearman though.

I beginning to think Antonelli might not be as good as he’s made out to be.

Well he’s got quite the challenge as George Russsell’s team mate next year.

It’s been a long time since a teenage rookie went straight into an F1 car with the opportunity to win races, so Mercedes have obviously seen something in their extensive testing programme to suggest he’ll be good.

But yes, not really the stand-out season in F2 for Kimi that many of us were expecting.

[Adrian W]

Cancelling the F1 academy race due to a bit of track maintenance is not a good look, makes the series look unimportant

[732NM]

Adrian W said:

Cancelling the F1 academy race due to a bit of track maintenance is not a good look, makes the series look unimportant

They will cancel any support race to ensure the F1 race can start on time. They always have done.

[Sandpit Steve]

Delayed start to the F2 Feature race, because of barrier repairs from the local Porsche race earlier in the day.