The incredible penalty
The first weekend of the 2024 F1 Academy season has already created a sensational case at the end of Race 2 in Saudi Arabiawon again by the French Doriane Pin after the success already achieved in Race 1. The Prema team driver, despite having passed under the checkered flag, was in fact convinced that the race was not over, with still one lap to complete. Consequently, the transalpine Mercedes Junior Team completed its 'last' lap at full speed, with the stewards having to display the red flag to block it.
An almost perfect weekend
This episode, however, denied success to Pin, thanks to one 20 second penalty which relegated her to ninth position. A very strange case that ruined an up until now perfect weekend, with two pole positions and two victories, at least until what happened at the end, with 1st place going to Ferrari driver Abbi Pulling. However, the overall performance was 100% convincing. Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin ambassador as well as last woman to have tested an F1 car last year.
“An exceptional talent”
The British woman described Pin's qualities to Sky Sports F1 as follows: “It's not for me to comment on the penalty – he has declared – but what Doriane can take away from the weekend is that she was dominant. He is clearly an exceptional talent and I have no doubt that next time he will fight to get back to the front. I think it's clear to everyone that he did a fantastic job and that nothing should be taken away from how he drove over the weekend.”
The importance of the F1 Academy
Limited to the women's championship, this year in its second edition and replacing the previous W Series, Hawkins has promoted the category, in the hope that it can bring a woman back to F1 for the first time since 1992, when Giovanna Amati participated in 3 GPs with Brabham, however, failed to qualify: “It is a championship and a category that I am very passionate about – has explained – I have the support of everyone who supports me in the factory, of Tina Hausmann (Aston Martin F1 Academy driver), of everyone who supports this program, and I believe it is essential that everyone supports it as much as possible. It's about taking small steps where possible, continuing to push and inspire younger generations to ensure more women enter the workforce at grassroots level. We all want to see a woman in Formula 1, don't we? That's what we want, and that's what I want. I don't think we will have achieved the goals we set ourselves until the presence of a woman in F1 is no longer a milestone, but I think there is still some time to go. This championship is a huge opportunity for these young female drivers who may not have the opportunity, without the F1 Academy, to showcase and develop their talent, as well as working closely with a Formula 1 team at the start of their careers. Many female riders don't have this opportunity. So, it's really there perfect platform to prepare them for the next stages of their career“.
#Academy #Dorian #Pin39s #talent #shines #Saudi #Arabia
