The third season of F1 Academy 2025 came to a close under the lights in Las Vegas, defined by two milestone moments: Chloe Chambers winning her home race and Doriane Pin securing the championship. Both results summed up a year that felt more mature, more competitive and more aligned with the wider single seater ladder.
A champion built on consistency
Pin’s title run began taking shape after Montreal and never really fell off course. She didn’t score a single pole position all year, but she delivered points every weekend, handled pressure well and avoided the kind of swings that defined earlier seasons.
Her fifth place in the Las Vegas finale was enough to seal the championship by fifteen points over closest rival Maya Weug. After finishing runner-up to Abbi Pulling last year, she closed her two-year chapter with Mercedes and PREMA, with the team also securing their third consecutive championship.
“Champion is a beautiful word to really fit our season. We can be really proud of all the work we have done since last year. We never gave up, we worked so hard on winning races, winning the title.”
A home win that landed at the right time
Chambers finished her F1 Academy career with one of the cleanest drives of her season: pole position, a strong launch and control over every lap. After the crash in Race 1, she needed a reset and delivered it, signing off her campaign with a home victory and third place in the standings.
Her year had clear turning points. Zandvoort was the moment her mindset shifted, and Las Vegas confirmed the progress.
“After Zandvoort, my whole mindset changed. I didn’t really have a realistic chance at the title, so for me I had nothing to lose.”
Through all of it, Chambers proved she belongs in the next step of the ladder. Though her 2026 plans are yet to be announced, her pace in the Formula E test earlier this season strengthened her profile.
New names and long-awaited breakthroughs
2025 delivered a list of important firsts:
- Ella Lloyd took her maiden win in Jeddah and became one of the most consistent performers, finishing fourth as the highest-placed rookie
- Alba Larsen climbed from a quiet start to regular front-row pace and aggressive charges through the field
- Alisha Palmowski recorded her strongest year to date, including Campos front-row lockouts and a maiden victory
- Nina Gademan built her profile through steady points, clean race craft and one of the most composed drives in tricky Las Vegas conditions
In Vegas, F1 Academy also revealed a multi-year partnership with LEGO Group, with Esmee Kosterman becoming the premiere driver for the new LEGO Racing team during her rookie year.
Susie Wolff captured the spirit behind the collaboration:
“This collaboration isn’t just about the possibility of building an F1 Academy LEGO car. It’s about building belief in what’s possible. With our first partnership product, fans will be able to create something that stands for opportunity and representation.”
A year of meaningful structural progress
This season also marked a shift toward operating as a long-term development category. The inaugural rookie test was a crucial step, giving new drivers structured access to the car ahead of 2026. Teams also confirmed several returning drivers early, stabilising the offseason and signalling trust in continuity.
These moves help young drivers build rhythm, give teams clearer development plans and reduce the pressure of late-season seat scrambles.
What carries into 2026
Looking ahead, the series leaves 2025 with a stronger identity. The next grid will mix returning talent with rookies coming from the test programme, and the midfield looks set to tighten again. If the series continues building at this pace, 2026 should feel less like a follow-up season and more like the moment F1 Academy fully establishes itself within the single seater pathway.
F1 Academy ends the year in a stronger position than it started. The progress was steady, visible and shaped by the drivers who delivered key moments across the calendar. With a new champion crowned and a new group forming, the next chapter already feels underway.
