Set against the unique backdrop of Las Vegas, it’s time for the final round of the season. Maya Weug has been really strong in this final part of the championship and her only goal is to secure the title.

Dorian Pin heads the classification, just nine points ahead of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy’s Maya Weug, so it’s going to be a thrilling climax to the F1 Academy year with the field so tightly bunched in terms of points. After a strong start to the year, Weug then picked up fewer points than expected in the middle part for various reasons. That mean Pin went into the lead, which Maya then began to close down at the last two rounds in Zandvoort and Singapore. The ups and downs of the season mean that the stage is set for a thrilling finish in Las Vegas, with Pin on 151 points and Weug on 142, so that Maya is definitely in with a chance. If she scores maximum points, then the title is hers, whatever her rival does.

Motivated. “I am very happy to have got to Vegas still fighting for the title,” commented Maya. “Especially as at one point this season it was by no means certain that would be the case. “We staged a great comeback after a difficult weekend in Montreal. We rolled up our sleeves, the team really did a lot of work and…here we are!” Weug reckons her chances of success are good. “The last tests were positive and we have left nothing to chance, also making the most of simulator sessions to be as well prepared as possible. It’s going to be a tough weekend and we know we have to do everything to perfection, which is precisely what we did in the previous rounds in Zandvoort and Singapore. It’s been a long time to wait for this Las Vegas round and I’m really looking forward to getting out on track. I want to do everything I can to bring home the title.”

Unknown track. This is the first time the F1 Academy has raced on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, a new experience therefore for teams and drivers, thus adding to the unpredictability on track. Time spent getting a feel for the track will be key. Aurelia Nobels also hopes to finish the season with a strong performance as it’s clear she has made good progress over recent rounds, with a fourth place finish at the last round at the Marina Bay circuit. 

Programme. Everything happens a day earlier than usual in Vegas with two 40 minute free practice sessions taking place on Thursday at 18.40 local (2.40 Friday CET) followed by 30 minutes of qualifying at 21.30 (4.30 CET). The first race takes place on Friday at 18.15 (2.15 CET) with the top eight places from qualifying reversed on the grid. Points for Race 1 are allocated to the top eight as follows: 10 for the win, followed by 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, with a further point to the driver setting the fastest race lap. The main event, Race 2 is on Saturday at 16.20 (1.20 CET) with points going to the top ten as in Formula 1, starting with 25 for the winner and after the chequered flag is waved the championship winner will be revealed. Forza Maya!