Original subtitles

Hello and welcome back to live coverage of F1 Academy from Austin, Texas. We're

here at the Circuit of the Americas for the final round of the year of this...

inaugural series two practice sessions down and things now start to ramp up for

our 15 drivers it's qualifying ahead of three races held across saturday and

sunday and this is the track they'll be hurtling their f1 academy cars around

second longest circuit on the f1 academy calendar it's a hectic lap for the

drivers to get to grips with as well 20 corners undulating bumpy the most amount

of corners of any track that we've been to this season and this the seventh and

final round of f1 academy we will crown our champion at some stage across the

weekend there are still three title contenders marta garcia lena bula and

Al -Qubaisi are in the top three of the championship and they are still in with

a chance. Garcia currently has a 48 -point lead in front of Elena Bula and

Al -Qubaisi, a further eight points behind. So Marta Garcia...

has the advantage for now but things in motorsport can change very quickly ahead

of us in terms of qualifying we have two 15 minute qualifying coming up back to

back the first of which will set the grid for race one will be as they

then the top eight are reversed for race two and that sets the grid for race two

then the second qualifying session set the grid for rate three points are also

up for grabs when it comes to pole position it's 2 points for race 1 and 2

points for pole for race 3. No point if you get reverse grid pole.

It's a lovely sunny day. Track temperature 38 .4 degrees.

Air temperature 35 .3 degrees.

We've had the F1 running. It's now time for the Academy running and guiding you

through all the coverage is myself, Harry Benjamin.

And joining me for the coverage this afternoon is Naomi Schiff. Hello, Naomi.

How are you?

Hello, Harry. I'm very well, thank you. How are you?

I'm not too bad. I'm looking... forward to this we've had a good couple of

practice runnings where it's been two very different characteristics right at

the start of the morning it was such a cold track the first bit of track

that they got was this morning for f1 academy now we've had some rubber laid

down by the f1 cars we've had another practice session as well the cars are

getting quicker the drivers are getting more confident i think it's going to be

an all -out fight

Absolutely, and it's going to be about how much these drivers can adapt to the

different conditions out there. And remember, there's only 15 minutes of the

session, so that's not a lot of time to get up to grips.

You know, it's one of those things that tests the driver's skills in terms of

how quickly they can adapt to these changing conditions.

It is so hot out here in Austin. It's 35 degrees air temperature out there right

now. The track temperature is 38 degrees at 5 .30 in the afternoon. So

challenging for the drivers as well on, as you mentioned, a track with 20

corners. It's a big challenge for those drivers out there this afternoon.

But I suppose that's part of the point, isn't it, of F1 Academy. We've been to

such a wide variety of circuits. We started at the Red Bull Ring, then

Catalonia, Zandvoort, Monza and Paul Ricard. And I suppose the idea of...

academy is as well to promote female talent across the board on and off track

but also to get into grits with such different types of track than

what's required because i think that's probably quite easy to underestimate the

different intricacies that are required for different tracks absolutely and

obviously in this day and age you know we have fantastic devices like racing

simulators that allow drivers to adapt to circuits a little quicker than maybe

drivers would have been able to do in the past.

But what's fantastic about this series is there's just...

great amount of track time for these drivers there's 15 days of you know pre

-season testing and on top of that i saw that quite a lot of the drivers were

out here doing some testing on this track before this race began so i think

lot of them are up to scratch in terms of the track but obviously as you said

you know there's been formula one cars just gone after qualifying so grip

will probably be slightly different to what they've had the advantage of you

know potentially testing out here a couple of weeks ago but like you say you

know this is a it's a championship that tries to you know carve out the talents

of drivers from the rest and these are moments where drivers like this can

really prove what they can do in these trickier conditions where you know there

is a bit of an unknown factor going out there this afternoon absolutely well we

can

Have a little listen to one of our drivers talking a little earlier on.

is in the car that we spoke to earlier, Amna Al -Khobassi.

I like the Austin circuit because it's very challenging. I like how the first

part of the track are the S's. They're very challenging and hard to, you know,

find a good and right line.

So I really like this track. It's pretty long.

So we can't really compensate for mistakes.

So it's going to make it more challenging for us drivers to be able to

at the top spot. So I'm excited for it.

Amna Al -Khobaisi there. She's excited for it. I think we all are. The 23 -year

-old from the United Arab Emirates. The older of the Al -Khobaisi, Hamda Al

-Khobaisi, also in the field. She is very much still in title contention. But

Amna also managing to get a couple of wins on the board as well. She probably

lies sixth.

in the Drivers' Championship with two wins, a pole and four podiums. This is

Abby Pulling, though, and Naomi, you've raced against Abby Pulling previously in

the W Series as well, and I think it was here a couple of years ago. Abby

Pulling came in and managed to get pole position in a podium as well, and it

really set the world alight. How much do you rate somebody like Abby Pulling?

Yes, unfortunately, I actually didn't have the...

The luxury of racing against Abby, she actually came into W Series once I'd

already left.

But from the moment she came into W Series, she initially came in as a

driver where she had an opportunity to jump in the car.

And straight off the bat, she just proved that she was a contender.

And then obviously in the last season of W Series, she showed exactly how much

talent she had by being at the front of the pack for quite a lot of the season.

So this season, I've actually been surprised to see that she's a little bit

further down in the championship order than I expected.

but obviously there have been some other factors that have caused her to not

score points on some occasions. But she's a talented driver. I mean,

don't count her out. She knows what she's doing in a race car.

Absolutely. Well, as they all peel into the fast lane for qualifying, we are

about to get underway. But you're right, Abby pulling down in fifth.

Managed to get a pole position in Paul Ricard for race one, but then a

disqualification in race three. So, as you may know, it's been really up and

down for her. Not always within her control, either. Technical infringements

getting in the way of her and her Roding Carlin teammate.

But green light at the end of the pit lane is Stephanie Carlin, the team

principal of Roding Carlin.

Watches on, and they head out on... to this track, the Circuit of the Americas,

just over 5 .5 kilometres, over 3 .4 miles, 23rd, 11 to the left and

9 to the right, an anti -flock -wide track. Naomi, what are the drivers doing

now? The first lap out there, getting their bearings, trying to find space?

Yeah, it's a couple of things. Obviously, you know, you come out in the

you're in, based on where your teams are placed in the pit lane.

They've probably got a couple of tricks up their sleeves. One thing you

mentioned was the El Cabase sisters.

You know, what a fantastic thing to be racing against them. It must be such an

interesting dynamic. But from what I've heard, they try their best to use that

to their advantage. So they might be working together to find...

space on track and maybe give each other a tow on a track like this that could

really you know give you a bit of an advantage so it's about track position

about warming up your tires i can't see so well from where you know from the

monitors here who's on new tires who's on new tires but getting that

in starting to get your your eye line in dialed in and knowing exactly where

you're going to place your car where you're going to brake but heating up the

tires as you can see them you know, swerving from one side to the other,

to generate heat in the tyres. So it's all about getting that car dialed in,

getting themselves dialed in, but most importantly, finding the right spot on

the track so they don't come into traffic in this very short session.

Yeah, absolutely.

Even weaving left and right to get heat into the tyres, to get them up to

temperature down that back straight. And speaking to Alice Powell, a little

earlier on before this qualifying session, she coaches Abby Pulling, and

saying, actually, in terms of tyres, you can use some old tyres. if you want to

but she's expecting at least from her perspective everybody to be out there on

set of new tires but we'll try and bring you that information when we get a get

to a little bit of a look at here's bianca bustamante she's recently signed

the mclaren driver program in formula one and we caught up with her earlier

well i myself i prepared for the So, you know, for Poli, I think it

requires a lot of mental fortitude to kind of build yourself up for that one

mega lap that can really set you to pole.

And so, yeah, a lot of visual thinking, analysation, of course, all the work

you've done previous, you know, prior to the event. It definitely counts up to

that moment.

Bianca Bustamante there, currently last seventh in the drivers.

championship two wins and four podiums to her name and and how good is that now

i mean for f1 academy we've already got a couple of f1 affiliates with abby

pulling with alpine and and uh lena bulla with uh the uh sauber formula one

it's not to get very busy in the pit lane doesn't it uh very frantic there

also the news on top of this that all 10 f1 teams will have uh an affiliate

driver and subsequent f1 livery on 10 of the cars in in 2024 for f1 academy

that's exactly what we need to be doing isn't it absolutely i mean that news

when we heard that all 10 of the teams were committing to have a car on the

in their livery as well as a driver in their colors a driver who you know i'm

not entirely sure exactly what extent each team is going to be giving support

their drivers but This has been the first announcement with Bianca being the

first driver to be announced as a McLaren driver.

And she's been put into their development program. So the value of

enormous. I mean, it's already one thing for them to be able to be competing.

In this series, with feeder series teams that are competing in F2 and F3, the

knowledge that they can get from being involved with these types of teams, like

Tremor who we're seeing on screen here, as well as in the future, F1 teams, is

absolutely huge. And it's great to see the commitment from the paddock to

support females in the sport. And I think it's one thing for us to want it

ourselves. It's a great thing for these types of initiatives to exist. But we

need our male allies in the sport to be with us. are going to be touching us

forward, and this is a great example of that.

It absolutely is. The clock is counting down. Ten and a half minutes still to go

on this first 15 -minute qualifying session, which will set the grid for

one and two. The top eight at the end of this is reversed, and that forms the

grid for race two.

We talk a lot about the drivers and the opportunities for them, but I think it's

very... We've got to remember it's not just about...

those on track, is it? Because I think Megan Jilkes emphasised this massively,

the Canadian race down at Rodencon. This is going to be her last race. Oh,

here's Chloe Grant, sir. Please make sure that I go out in front of the car,

else she'll just hold me up.

Chloe Grant, then.

...putting down, laying down the law, doesn't want to be stuck behind her

teammate Gary Schreiner. But just to see off the previous points about Megan

Jilkes, she's announced she's going to end her professional racing career.

22 years old. She ends it after this round.

But to take up a position as a graduate performance engineer with Aston Martin

in Formula One, and to be taking up that kind of position in an engineering

performance role...

I think it's just fantastic. It's not just about promoting on -track talent.

need to promote the off -track talent as well.

Of course, and it's amazing to see that, you know, she has the ability not only

to drive the car, but also to do something that, you know, it still keeps

this paddock. I was lucky enough that once I hung up my helmet, I'm able to

in the paddock. But you're absolutely right. There is a whole ecosystem in

motorsport where, you know, women can have opportunities.

And for Megan, you know, I remember her racing in W Series in 2019 as well. She

took some years out. She was racing back in the U .S., and now she's made a

comeback. for an academy and maybe it's not gone her way. Obviously, there's

also financial restrictions on these drivers. They have to pay up to 150 ,000

euros to be in these seats and maybe she doesn't have to. But we don't know what

the factors are for her to decide at her young age to hang up her helmet. But,

you know, the future is still bright for her and there's a lot of opportunities

out there and it's fantastic for her to be able to get into a role in such a

great program that's going to keep her involved in the sport that she loves.

Absolutely. I think a lot of people willing, Meg and Jill's dog for these,

will be her final professional motorsport races.

So then everyone's starting to peel out of the garage. In fact, everybody is out

there. So we get our first proper flying lap with eight minutes to go. The

sunshine still glaring down. This is Nerea Marti making her way up towards

over a hundred foot incline. 30 Formula One cars stacked up on top of each

other. That's how steep the hill is.

Up to turn one, and then it's straight back down again before you head into the

fast. Good job. Got your iron FB2.

Let's have it.

There's Jess Edgar, who was fastest in free practice two, speaking on the

But Marty actually had an issue in free practice two. We believe it was a

suspected suspension failure, which caused her to lose 15 minutes.

Naomi, that obviously puts her a little bit on the back foot heading into this

qualifying.

absolutely obviously track time is paramount it's everything you need to

yourself where you want to be you know 15 minutes sounds like not much but when

you've got you know

And the triple right -hander of 16, 17, 18, through the left -hander of 19, one

more corner to go.

bought Nerea Marti to get her first competitive lap time on the board. You

see how hard she's working the steering wheel of that F1 Academy car, and she

puts in a 2 .10 .1. Lovenfos, though, a teammate, immediately displaces her and

goes fastest with a 2 .09 .7. Jilt gets heads up to third. Bianca Bustamante,

fastest of anybody in the first sector, hands it out for Macy, heads to the top

of the timing screens. We await Marta Garcia, our...

title contender in the number 15 red and white framer she goes fastest

Bustamante can't pip her and our other title contender of Lena Bullock still

there as well she's fastest of anybody in the middle set to the Swiss Racer

by the Sauber F1 team. Fastest of anybody.

Pulling comes across in third.

Jess Edgar will be next across the line. She's fifth. Then comes Buller. What

can she do? It's fastest for the Swiss. A 2 .087.

Nice, tidy lap. Early doors from Lena Buller.

Fantastic effort from Lena. You know, she's got a lot of pressure on her

shoulders this weekend. She almost cannot put a foot wrong if she stands a

chance. taking the title away from Marta Garcia.

And for her to be putting the pressure out there, you can see her lap times.

Obviously, very, very close out at the front, just, you know, five hundredths

a second splitting the top three. So it's very close. Obviously, you're going

go for some more laps. You can see some people on the board. Marta Garcia's got

a purple sector one right now.

It's going to be tight out there, but Lena needs to keep it out in front for

to have a chance.

Oh, very wide from Nerea Marti once again coming out of the back of the main

drain. This is such a fan favourite, driver favourite circuit, isn't it,

Lock -up from Marty.

Seen that a lot as well, coming into the tight turn 15.

But, I mean, do you have a particular favourite part of this track? What's the

most challenging part as a driver around this Kota circuit?

To go to the beginning of what you just said there, honestly, I've never raced

on this track, but I've done many, many laps on this track on a racing

simulator, and it is honestly one of my favourites. It's tomorrow, you said to

me. Tomorrow you can race on a track that you've not raced on before, which

would it be? It would absolutely be Hover.

Fantastic track. It's a track that's got so much flow, especially in sector one.

Sector two, slightly less challenging. Obviously, you've got the track limit

issues there as well, as you mentioned. But sector three is where it really,

really gets tough. It really gets technical. You've got a couple of

you know, 13, 14, 15, where you've really got to place the car.

perfectly to get a good exit out of 15 and around 16, 17, 18 so that whole

sector is where you've got to really focus and it's the end of the lap so you

know at that point you've probably done you know where you stand in terms of the

lap and you've got to either absolutely not make a mistake there or you know the

lap's already over or you still have something to gain so the pressure is on

sector 3 and it's a sector that requires connecting every single one of the

dots. It is a challenging track.

And while you were chatting, we've had some fast lap times. And it's only three

thousandths of a second.

Splitting provisional pole, which is currently occupied by our title

Marta Garcia.

Abby pulling. Here she is in car number ten in the pink and black.

Rodin Carlin, backed by the Alpine Formula One team, pulling in second.

Mante, half a tenth behind.

Then Brula Chong, youngest driver on the grid in fifth.

apparently P2 good job Buller gets up 2 third at the end of that so nice

...feedback from pulling there, where she can go quicker and where she is

already quick.

Chong Fifth, Marty, Edgar, Hamda Alkabasi, Amna Alkabasi, and Emily

rounds out the top ten.

That's Jessica Hawkins, the Aston Martin affiliate driver, most recent driver,

most recent female driver now, who had taken to the wheel of a Formula One car,

which was fantastic to see her given that opportunity and spearheading away

our young drivers here in F1 Academy.

Jess Edgar has... been looking quick very much all weekend long so far

of anybody in practice too Jessica could bring a surprise here she's fastest of

anybody in that first set so she's not in the hunt for anything to do with the

title but I suppose knowing me that means she's got absolutely nothing to

she hasn't and that's probably you know given giving her less to worry about in

a session there's probably less pressure on her shoulders she's probably just

enjoying herself out there But there's always points you want to put on the

table. I mean, there's a championship order that you still, at the end of the

year, you know, people are going to look back and say, where did you finish the

championship? So points are always points. Right down to the end, they

And she's still going to want to claim everything out there, even if it's not

for the championship prize.

Points, absolutely mean prizes, don't they? Martha Garcia crosses the line and

stays in P1. Gets a faster time, though. 2 .082 the time to beat Edgar. Personal

best in the middle around the final corner. Edgar has got two podiums so far

her name this year. Searching for her first pole position. What can she do?

Loses a bit of time. It's only fourth for Edgar as Bula crosses the line. She

can't improve either. She stays in third.

This is Chloe Chong.

The third of the frame at drivers, the youngest in the field, round the final

corner. This looks like it might be one of Chong's best qualifying so far of the

year. Fantastic work for her to get up into the top five in front of

But Garcia has a three -tenth gap at the moment. But what do we have here with

Abby Pulling?

Are we about to get a lap time deleted for some track limit?

That is hard work, right? Look at that.

Car control at its finest. I mean, it's great to see those moments like that.

These girls in these cars, you know, don't underestimate them.

She's just showing, you know, obviously she's made a slight mistake going in

today. Obviously that's going to cost her time, but still she's caught it

fantastically.

On she goes.

So in terms of our title contenders, Lena Buller is one of them. This is her.

She's currently in third on provisional poll. It's Marta Garcia, the other, the

leader in the title race at the moment. And Handa Al -Khobaisi still with an

outside chance. She's currently down in eighth, about a second off. So she needs

to find some time now. But it doesn't look like she's going to be able to.

do so. Amanda Algarbasi not able to find that, but Marta Garcia looks like she

has sealed the deal as Marti crosses the line. She goes third fastest.

I think Garcia's got this in the bag with a three tenth gap.

Amanda Algarbasi is on a lap at the moment, not finding a huge amount of

This is the other Prema, the Garcia Prema, who has decided, yep, she has

enough. She heads in to the pit.

She's not going to put in another lat. Martha Garcia, I think, will secure pole

position for race one.

And that is one step closer to the title for the first ever F1 Academy

Series.

Garcia is doing all she has to do, isn't she, Naomi?

She absolutely is. And, you know, for her to come out of the qualifying

on top of the chart is going to give her a real boost for this weekend. You

know, the simplest way I could simplify it down to the permutations for this

weekend for her was that if Elena Bula won every race and scored points in both

qualifying sessions, all that Martha would need to do is score 18 points. But

now she'll be scoring two.

if none of her laps get deleted. I don't know if you saw a couple of cars had

their lap times deleted. Car 16, Mr. Monte, Chloe Chong as well, who you said

was having one of her best qualifying years. She's still on the lap, though.

no, that's Chloe Grant. Sorry about that.

But, you know, fantastic for Martha. Easily done.

Fantastic for Martha to be on provisional toll right now, and I think

going to give her a little boost going into the final.

Here comes Chloe Grant, though, still on a decent lap for Grant. She's down in

13th at the moment, just about keeps it within the track limit to the line. for

Grant and gets up into ninth.

So lost a little bit of time in that final sector.

But she's the second best ART on the road. The third best is Carrie

who comes across the line and puts her ART into 40 bots. But I think,

has another lap time just been deleted? I think it might have been. Chloe

Chong's just slid down the order.

Again, down to 12.

So I wonder if she's waiting to come up on our screen. And there it has.

Bustamante and Chong.

Track limit.

at turn 19.

So they have been subbed out. But here's Abbey Pulling, who will be on the front

row. Really, really good job. Really good job. That's P2.

P2. The change is amazing.

Thank you, guys.

Yeah, really good job with that pin there.

Really good result there from Abbey Pulling to line up second on the grid

race one. Sharing that with Martha Garcia. Martha, Buller and Edgar.

the top five, Bustamante, Alcavati, and Chloe Grant at the top eight. Now, that

actually means, I mean, Chloe Grant, if all remains the same, touch wood, no

more track limits violations, Chloe Grant will get the reverse grid pole for

race two.

How exciting. I mean, I've never been a part of a race where there is a reverse

grid like that, but to...

be handed a pole position like that and then try to fight for your life out

there to keep the car in front of cars who theoretically are slightly quicker

than you. It also gives the other drivers who are fighting through the

opportunity to be practicing a bit of their overtaking. It does obviously

slightly more exciting racing because the cars aren't in their typical

qualifying order.

So definitely some exciting racing going to come for race two given that order

there. Yeah, fantastic to see that for her, and I'm sure she's going to have a

big smile on her face about it. Oh, she's dropped down tonight, hasn't she?

I was just about to say, such lovely things, Naomi, but unfortunately... What

does do, though, is it puts Hamda Al -Khamid on pole position for race two.

She's really going to need that. I mean, there's only eight points splitting

herself and Bula.

in the championship.

So even if that championship title is slightly out of reach, although it is

still possible, second place in the championship is still very much a

possibility for Hamda. So she's definitely going to have a big smile on

face. Yeah, good news then for Hamda Al -Khobaisi. Bad news for Chloe Grant.

She'll still get a top 10 start, though, for both races. So she could do some

work from there.

We don't see that very often from race control, do we, Naomi? A lap time

reinstated for Chloe Chong.

So that puts her back up into seventh spot. And there is Chloe Chong there. So

she'll be a bit relieved there. And you can see a fist pump from Chong. So let's

get confirmation then of how that first qualifying ended up. It is our title

leader, Martha Garcia, who will start race one from pole in front of Abby

Pulling and Nerea Marthi. Lena Buller.

Our other title contender in fourth in front of Jess Edgar.

Bianca Bustamante will be sixth. Then comes Chong. Hamna Alkabasi in eighth.

That does mean reverse grid poll for race two for the third of our title

contenders. In front of Grant and Lola Lomfoss, the top ten.

Amelie de Hoos in eleventh. Then came Amna Alkabasi. Megan Gilkes in

in front of Carrie Schreiner. And Maita Cáceres will start fifteenth and last

for race one.

Beautiful scenes around this Austin, Texas track, and what a beautiful view,

you can get it, from that fantastic observation tower. It's got a 360

panoramic view of a circuit.

Naomi,

when was the last time you saw a lap time reinstated by race control?

I can't remember.

I don't think I've ever seen that. This could be a first for me.

I don't know if it's a first for you, but I've never seen that happen. And

obviously, she's going to be really happy about that. They must have made a

mistake, which is very, you know, uncommon because some of these decisions

made with censors. Some of them, you know, they've got CCTV footage all

the track.

They should be able to see exactly what's going on out there. But that's

what would have pushed down Chloe Grant and obviously given Hamda Al -Tabaisi

that eighth place. So, you know, some win, some lose.

And that's the name of the game, isn't it?

But a little bit of a pause then. We'll get Q2 started in a couple of minutes.

Here is Chloe.

It's a random message now.

They will be reset at our time. So now we are P7.

Very good job.

I almost had a heart attack.

They told me that my time was deleted.

I think it was P19, so I'll try to be safe and do some laughter.

Fantastic from Chloe Chong there, who is remaining calm in the cockpit of that

Prima. So that will be a good start for her. We'll give her P2.

in the reverse grid race as well. So good work there from Chloe Chong. But

another qualifying session to go, which will start at six o 'clock local time.

So just a few minutes away before we get that second session underway. Another

15 minutes, same scenario, but it sets the grid for our third race that we will

have on Sunday for the weekend.

And while we have this little break, Naomi, one of the big... talking points

coming into this weekend was the announcement of the 2024 F1 Academy

seven -round calendar, and it's joining up with Formula One full -time for the

seven rounds. F1 Academy will be a support race at Saudi Arabia, Miami,

Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

That's really good news to see because it's all well and good being a series on

your own, but to be under the spotlight of Formula One just brings so much more

to the situation.

Absolutely, it's huge. I mean, from that perspective, you know, COTA had record

-breaking amounts of audiences last year. They had 440 ,000.

spectators out here last year. So for the eyeballs to just get, you know,

watching women's sports is so incredibly important for them to be able to

succeed. So it's fantastic for them to be on such an incredible platform like

the Formula One calendar at seven incredible locations.

I mean, some of those races are real highlights of the season. And for these

drivers as well to be learning F1 tracks and racing at such a high standard

circuit is fantastic for their careers. I mean, not many people can say that

they've been able to do that. And for their learning curve, it's going to be

absolutely crucial. But number one is the spotlight on them, the eyeballs.

Obviously, the teams are going to be surrounding them, not only from their

participation with them with deliveries, with the support of the drivers, but

also being with them on the same race weekend. They're going to be able to do

much more media with the drivers and work with them in whatever way that they

are going to support them from a driving perspective.

So all around, it's fantastic news for F1 Academy, but for women.

for women's sport as well.

Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. Well, before we get the second part of

qualifying underway, Abby Pulling, who has just qualified P2 for race one, we

caught up with her about her qualifying.

prepare for qualifying is i go through the data with my engineer uh do some

visualization so i'll sit looking like a bit of an idiot uh doing some laps in

my head and then um yeah just getting in the zone i do a lot of boxing shadow

boxing just to get myself pumped up and ready for for an intent 15 to 30 minutes

well that was abby fully giving us an insight into what gave her front row on

the grid did you ever have any pre -qualifying rituals now

So I was actually having a bit of a debate in the TADEC earlier with a

drivers on what their favorite part of the race weekend was.

genuinely qualifying was not my favorite.

I used to put so much pressure on myself. So I used to do anything I

could to just relieve that pressure. A lot of that has to do with, you know,

putting a headset on, listening to the music, avoiding people, visualization.

That's a tough word to get your tongue around.

Visualization is a very important thing to do. And it's something that I used to

do, sit in the car just before you go out, get 100 % focused, thinking of

single corner.

It's a technique that I thought always worked. And then obviously I would have

few little...

things that i won't bore you with i'm sure there's a podcast in that now i'm

sure um as they uh head out then all 15 cars back out then for qualifying all on

some new fresh pirelli tires by the looks of things you can still see the

sticker markings on them jeff hawkins continues uh to watch on uh and once

i suppose same as normal but they've learned already quite a lot haven't they

just from a first 15 minute session in qualifying we've had the practice as

but This is exactly how the track is. We've seen the characteristics change

quite a lot in the Formula 1 qualifying.

Do you think it will ramp up for F1 Academy as we head into the second part

qualifying now?

It probably will, but I think it's a great format to be able to have that

-minute break, slightly similar actually to the F1 qualifying where they have

three parts, but here you have a proper break.

Even, you know, with Chloe saying, you know, probably turn 19 is where she got

her lap time deleted initially.

All those things you can think about, you can hone it in. It's a chance to

a second attempt at which you probably weren't able to achieve in the first

of qualifying.

And, you know, this is a track that does require so much.

detail and finesse because it is so technical. So every lap out there that

can get, they're just going to be improving.

So it is fantastic for them to have those five minutes. I'm sure they've had

little conversation with their engineers as well. We heard earlier, I think it

was Abby Pulling's engineer saying she was losing two tenths in the first

sector, two tenths in the second sector.

And those two tenths in each sector sound just like numbers.

with all the data that they have from previous sessions, she'll know exactly

where those parts of the lap are that she's maybe been struggling a little

They will be able to go through data quite quickly as well. The engineers

be able to tell them exactly where they're losing that time. So it's a

reset. Go back out there. Whatever you couldn't get right, here's another

opportunity to get it right.

Absolutely.

joining us. This is the second part of qualifying for F1 Academy.

We've had the first 15 minutes which set the grid for race one and race two and

now we have another 15 minute session getting ready for the third race setting

that grid.

We're 12 and a half minutes left on the clock. Let's check in with Lola Lovacos.

making their way into the pit lane for a quick formation lap as they make their

way around.

But then heading back in all one by one. So a little breather before they then

find their way onto the track once more and find their form.

and slot in to their grid positions.

But this F1 Academy, a brand new stellar project from Formula One to develop and

prepare female talent to progress through to the higher levels of

competition, both on and off track. So quick changes there to the tyres, having

a check of the pressures and the temperature.

So good to see that being done.

It's been a really competitive year actually, Naomi.

11 out of the 15 drivers have stood on the podium.

8 out of 15 drivers have won a race. But for Martha Garcia, a 48 -point gap she

comes into this final round with.

That is stellar.

It is fantastic, and it's great to see that there have been so many different

drivers on the podium. It means that there's quite a lot of talent right

the grid.

But Martin had a stellar performance.

I remember her first year in W Series, she was absolutely fantastic.

The second year, she had a bit of a dip. She was struggling with some things

personally that were affecting her performance. And then she managed to

those things, come back in her third year of W Series and start to build

forwards from where she'd come from. And she'd had some really great highlight

moments. And then I'm just happy to see her where she deserves to be. She's a

quick driver. She's very dedicated to what she does. And I'm sure that she's

going to have a really bright future. future and you know I think it's almost

bit of a bit of sweet moment if she does win this weekend she doesn't come back

into you know F1 Academy next year to take advantage of all those fantastic

things that are happening for these drivers next year with the access to the

teams and that fantastic F1 calendar.

But at the end of the day, I'm pretty sure there's going to be support from F1

Academy. I'm not sure to what capacity just yet for her to move forward and do

something spectacular going forward.

Absolutely. Well, let's stay tuned to the F1 Academy websites and socials to

what happens post -season for our champion.

We just saw there Charlotte Phelps, the lead female engineer on Emily Dehose's

car down at MP Motorsport, just checking on how Emily is getting on. She's

currently down in eighth in the drivers.

the great breakthrough win earlier on in the year at the circuit de Barceló, the

pole position followed up by the win in race one, which was fantastic.

She hasn't quite gone the way so far. She's had some consistent results, got

back onto the podium in Zandvoort, but Paul Ricard was a pointless running for

the Dutch woman. We're going to have to get back into the points for this

weekend. OK.

Back on to the track, then. The two framers close together, coming through

one and two. And you mentioned, Naomi, teammates working together.

There are three cars per team. How can two drivers work together on a track at

the same time?

Well, it's true. There are three of them. But, you know, we've got a 15

session. And as you can see, the times were constantly tumbling. But also, it

wasn't necessarily the last lap that counted. So they've got...

enough opportunity time -wise to give each other a run. But obviously, in

Formula 1, you've got DRS. In this championship, you don't. But what you

is have your teammates drive in front of you, just like these two are doing, and

punching a hole in the air for you.

That'll make a huge difference. If you can work together in that way, it's

better for the team, it's better for your opportunity as well. But obviously,

there's going to be a conversation about who gets the first run, who gets the

second run, and who gets that advantage in that moment.

Yeah, absolutely.

We should mention the team's standings as well. That is still very much to be

decided. MP Motorsport currently lead that with 23 points, the gap over Kramer

Racing. So that is still to be fought over as much as the driver's title is.

ART in third. Then come Roden, Carlin and Campos, the five teams that make up

the F1 Academy Series. And four out of the five teams have won a race. Every

team has stood up. on the podium, including this woman here, Lena Bullock,

Swiss racer. Two wins, a pole position, and a further 11 podiums to her name

as well.

And sadly, she won't be able to come back to the series next year because she

hit the age limit and gone above it. She's turned 26.

this year, so she will not be able to return.

But what a fantastic first and last series it would have been for her.

Let's see how she gets on still with the title very much in her sights.

Nerea Marti heads downhill.

There's a lot of blind corners around this track. You've got the sort of blind

crest that feeds over Turn 10. And even coming through Turn 1, it's a bit of a

blind entry to the left -hander.

Your turn one is especially, I mean, from the simulator, from what I

experienced, it's such a tricky one. One, because you can't exactly pinpoint

where the apex is. But two, because you've got that uphill run into turn

you brake slightly too early, it does cost you almost double because you're

going uphill.

So turn one is a really tricky one. You've got to hit that apex as perfectly

you can. If you're on the run on the exit, you want, you know, it's quite a

sweeping section, so you've got to have a great exit out of there to stand a

chance to do well on the lap.

That's probably the trickiest one. Turn 10 is slightly blind, but it's almost a

little bit easier. The only thing you've got to watch out there for more is the

track limit topic that we keep talking about.

Yeah, Marthie just finding quite a lot of extra track coming through Turn 12.

It's given her a bit of time as well. But Turn 12 is not one that they are

majorly watching.

It's 9, 15, 19 and 20, but we'll keep an eye on the race control messages that

come through on our screens in the commentary box.

But Marty then, fastest of anybody at the moment in the middle sector. But

are the first proper lap times being set in this second qualifying session.

The two counsellors will come across the line. One and two, Marty.

Finds the top of the timing screens with a 2 .089.

Lovenfoss behind her, a 2 .090.

So not a lot between there. Maita Caceres about six tenths behind in the

of the campuses.

And she comes across the line in third.

So still waiting for the times. Bustamante has had a lot of time in that

sector. Fastest of anybody.

But it's Marta Garcia who is very, very quick. Purple middle sector as well.

To be expected from our leader in the championship, what can Al -Khobaisi do?

Hamda Al -Khobaisi, she comes across the line and she goes fastest with a 2

.086, but is immediately displaced by Abby Pulley. Lena Fuller has got us a

second. Time's changing all the time with just five and a half minutes left

the second qualifying that sets the grid for race number three. Here come two of

the Premiers Garcia across the line in third.

Bustamante comes across the line. in fifth it is nip and tuck between some of

these drivers Naomi it absolutely is and I can't imagine right now how high the

pressure is out there obviously some of them there's more to gain some of them

there's more to lose but at the end of the day the whole season is all about

progress these drivers came into the championship earlier in the year And

they've all had a lot of time to get themselves dialed in, but obviously

race you're progressing, you're getting more comfortable with the car, you're

getting more comfortable with your team, and it all comes down to this moment.

This is the last qualifying session of the season, and they'll all be thinking

about, this is the final opportunity to show what I can do to prove myself. When

I'm looking for sponsors, when I'm going out there to prepare myself for next

season, to be able to say, this is where I ended the season, this is what I can

do, that's going to be on their minds right now.

Yeah, I mean, the weekend goes so quickly already.

We've done two practices and we'll finish qualifying. Then all that's ahead

us. is the races so the track action just gets absolutely swallowed up so

quickly so they've got to make the most of every time they are out on this 5 .5

kilometer 3 .4 mile track marty once again out on track personal best in the

first the middle sector what she got in the final sector she comes across the

line it's not as much as she needs she's still in uh where did marty is six for

marty in the end bulu's found time though in the middle sector uh edgar

It's in the first sector. Jess Edgar, once again, might prove a thorn in the

side. Garcia, though, at the moment, who is our title leader, she's in third and

needs to find some more time if she wants to secure back -to -back pole

positions. But Edgar is looking the quickest on track at the moment.

Bula, round the final corner, into the sunshine and across the line for Lena

Bula. One final corner, I should say.

Bit of a lock -up for Buller. One final corner. Then she comes across the line.

Lena Buller losing a little bit of time in that final sector but still managing

to improve overall.

Over half a tenth of a second. A 2 .083 for Buller who takes provisional pole

for race three. Marta Garcia can't quite pit her title rival. She has to...

Settle for second.

Pulling Dill in third.

Handa Al -Khobaisi in fourth.

Over two and a half tenths back at the moment. But she's finding a little bit

time or needs to find a little bit more time.

Nerea Markey also on a flyover lap right now. So far, purple sector one. I think

she's about to complete sector two in a few seconds, and we'll see if she's

challenging for that provisional tall position. But Edgar there takes the

provisional tall position by almost two -tenths of a second to Lena Bullock. So

fantastic for her. She must be really feeling the track out there today.

Jess Edgar has been...

flying for most of the day and you can hear it before you see it almost for

Nerea Marti locking up that front left she has absolutely been hounding that

front left tyre all weekend long so far not giving it an inch but it's Edgar now

who is fastest the 208 125 that's provisional pole for race three for F1

then comes Lena Buller Martha Garcia is there pulling Chong the top five Nerea

Marti is the Spaniard at the wheel of the number one Campos. Round the final

corner. What's she got? She's currently down in seventh. Can she find time? Yes,

she can.

Marti, to the top of the timing screens, takes provisional pole despite the lock

-up. It's a 2 -0 -8 -0 for Nerea Marti.

Ahead of Edgar, Buller, Garcia,

Pulling, Chong, Handa Alcabesi, Bustamante, Amelie de Host, and Lola

the top ten as it currently stands.

But lap time, Are still coming. Jess Edgar finding more time. As is Marta

Garcia. But what has Abby Pulling got? With just over a minute and a half left

on the clock. Into the sunlight.

Round turn 19.

One more corner. Get the braking zone right.

Little bit bumpy over the rumble strips.

Keep it within track limits. She does so.

Pulling to the line.

Currently thick. That becomes fourth. What has Bula got?

She crosses the line. And she can't find the time. She stays in third. Grant

heads up into tenth. But it's all eyes.

on Marta Garcia, our title leader, as she takes provisional pole for race

in F1 Academy at 2 .080, less than half a tenth between her and Nerea Marti.

But I mentioned Jeff Edgar was looking fast. Once again, she's fastest of

anybody in the first sector. It's a personal best in the middle sector.

Round the final corner for the Roden Carlin driver.

What can she do? She's got nothing to lose. She's not in the title fight. It's

not pole, but it's close. it's third for Jess Edgar just over half a tenth of a

second how is that for a top three blip Absolutely incredible.

So tied between the top three. I was just watching the timings out there.

And Marta Garcia was giving away two tenths of a second to Jess Edgar in the

first sector. And Jess Edgar was giving those two tenths back to Marta Garcia in

the second sector. So the both of them, if they can just tidy up their sectors

out there, you could see them being even quicker than that. They could even put

two tenths of a second or more on their laps there. And they've still got an

opportunity with one more lap out there to tidy up their laps and, you know,

still fight for that full position.

We just saw team principal there, Rene Rosin, watching on from the pit lane,

seeing a framer on the top step for the time being, but Edgar's not done yet.

She's finding more time.

Nerea Marti has taken the chequered flag. She will not be able to improve

lap time.

Lola Lovenfoss also taking the chequered flag down in 11th, but Edgar Purple in

sector one. Could Edgar do it?

With a last gasp attempt, has she got enough left in these tyres? Down the

straight. She's fastest of anybody who can have another go. Quick look on the

timing screens. Nobody else is really able to match her as it currently

Could Jess Edgar be looking at her first pole position in F1 Academy?

She absolutely can.

This is not going to be good news for Marta Garcia or Nerea Marti because they

both seem to have abandoned the laps that they're on and therefore they're

to have to settle the time that they've got. on the board right now. So, oh,

there you go. Jess Edgar also seems to have pulled out of her lap in sector

So this might be your top three, ladies and gentlemen.

It might mean she's lost a lot of time in that middle sector.

Has she bailed out of it? Doesn't look like she's still getting a little bit of

speed, though. But let's just wait and see what she's got around the last

of corners.

Nobody else really improving. Bula improved her time. Stays in for one

corner, then, for Jess Edgar.

Can she find the time? Can she find the pole on her last gasp attempt?

She can!

Jens Edgar takes pole position for race three in F1 Academy. Her first pole

position in the series.

Stephanie Carlin watching on with tears in her eyes.

Fantastic. Lost a bit of time in the middle sector, but kept in it till the

bitter end and was rewarded with pole by half a tenth of a second.

She actually had a slower sector two and a slower sector three than on a

previous lap. She must have pulled off an incredible sector one there. She's

been quite dominant in that sector this whole session long, actually. And you

can see she's got a quicker time than anyone in the first sector on that lap

there.

Fantastic work from Jess Edgar, who picked Martha Garcia, our

leader in the title, picked up a couple of points for pole position.

for race one, doesn't get it for race three.

So those points go to Jess Edgar. But Garcia is still able to start on the

row. So it's looking good for her. Marty third, Bula pulling. Then comes Hamda

Al -Khobassi in sixth.

Chong, the host. Bustamante, Grant, the top ten.

But last time we did the order, there was a few track limit violations.

So we'll just hold our breath for the slight time being.

But Samantha has just had a lap time deleted.

So we'll wait and see where that drops her down. But I think Jess Edgar should

be safe. That was a phenomenal lap. But still, it's not pole, but Marta Garcia

will start on the front row for the big points -paying races, for race one and

race three, which is really all she needs to do.

And it's great news for Marta Garcia, given the fact that, you know, her title

concerns Elena Villa starting behind her.

for both of those races. So that's a great start to the weekend for Marta.

Lena's obviously going to be still pushing and fighting out there to do

can this weekend so far. But I also want to say Hamda Al -Kibaisi had a much

better performance in Q2 than she did in Q1. And I don't know if that was

because she maybe had lost the time due to track limits in the first session,

but she was almost a second off in qualifying one. She's brought that right

to four tenths in the session.

You are on pole position.

Wow, what a lap.

Fantastic job.

Pole position.

Jess, did you hear me? You're on pole position.

Did she hear them? We don't know. No response from Jess Edgar.

She is a bit of a quieter character, but her first pole, I'm sure when she gets

out of the car, there'll be a wry smile there from the 18 -year -old who resides

in Cumbria.

racing in the blood as well her cousin johnny racing in fia formula 3 this year

and this was another look at that phenomenal lap from jess edgar

handing the car now you can see the car control and how much she's making that

steering wheel work for her Yeah, you can really see that she just really

it. I mean, she kept going right to the bitter end and it all has paid off

because she's had her first full position of the season right when it

This was her last opportunity to do that and she's done it. It's a fantastic job

from her. You can see how happy the whole team is for her to achieve that.

think she's going to be a very happy driver.

And I think she's now being told and reassured.

Perhaps a little bit emotional at that as well.

So I think you can see there the emotion on Jess Edgar's face through the visor.

That's fantastic. Just what that means to her. It's fantastic.

Yeah, it's no mean feat. I mean, of course, there's a lot of pressure on

drivers' shoulders this weekend. They're driving in front of some of their

idols, the big boys.

All the teams are watching them, and they're all fighting for positions with

those teams next season. To be able to do that is going to mean so much to her,

and hats off for her to have been able to do that.

Absolutely. Well, the title leader, Marta Garcia, will be starting right

alongside her. At the end of Qualifying 2, then, this sets the grid for our

third race.

on Sunday, which Jeff Edgill will start from pole position, her first pole in

the F1 Academy Series.

In front of Martha Garcia, Nerea Marti in third, Lena Buller, Abby Tulling, the

top five, and Alcavesi, the third of our title rivals in sixth. Buller, the

other one, up in fourth. Cho, the host, Christa Mante, Chloe Grant, grabs out

the top ten.

Lola Lollinvoss was 11th in front of Amna Alcavesi. Maite Caceres, 13th in

of Megan Jill.

And Carrie Schreiner will line up 15th and last for Rate 3 on Sunday.

Well, what beautiful scenes to leave you with here in Kosovo. My thanks to them.

What an absolutely fantastic effort. Late on by Jessica Edgar.

She's been on it all weekend. She's quickest.

in the second practice session this morning, and then right at the last, off

championship leader, snatching pole position for that third race. So three

go. With regards to Marta Garcia, because she picked up two points for

position, in race one tomorrow, she needs to finish fourth, unless her

rival, Lena Bula, gets the fastest lap, in which case she'll need to finish

third, and the championship will be hers.

The second race is from 9 .15, and the third race on Sunday. from 3 .25.

We're watching that alongside me. A breathless finish there, Jenson.

Yeah, it's good. I mean, the first qualifying session was close, but the

one was a good one. And it's not easy around here at that time of night

the sun's in your face for half the track.

And there was, what, one tenth between the top three. So, no, fantastic.

I mean, that's what it's all about.

I mean, she said, you could hear it over team radio there.

And a race engineer saying, look, you've been on it. Don't leave anything

behind. She missed it with her penultimate

Yeah,

and it's really, it's so different to an F1 car around here. They don't have so

much power, so you have to be spot on every single corner around here. And she

got it together, and that was a great lap. But Garcia's obviously the one to

beat. She's first, you know, she was first in the first part of qualifying

race one, and she's second for race three.

So... Yeah, she's the one to beat, but I'm really looking forward to this race.

And this is the first time they've got to race in front of Formula One and in

front of the Formula One fans. So there's a lot of pressure on them this

weekend. Yeah, of course.

Jessica Edgar, for her, it's the first time they've been live, as you said,

cameras at an F1 weekend, lots of eyeballs on it, and then to pull it out

last. That's her first pole position of the year.

For her, that's a huge stepping stone. Well, you could see the emotion on her

face when she came in. She was quiet on the radio. I don't know if the radio was

working or not, but quiet on the radio. the radio and came and just sat in the

car and it hits you hard because wherever you are in the world and you're

and you put it on pole it's great but when you drive down this pit lane and

drive past all the f1 teams it's something different altogether so fair

congratulations to her let's bring naomi in straight straight out of comms well

done hello jensen how are you where are you come in the middle you're all set

there but what amazing wasn't it great end a lot of action out there and it

kept the time kept tumbling and you know fantastic from jess edgar out there to

just keep pushing right till the bitter end to get her first pole position of

the season i think that's really exciting for her well that's exactly the

we're making a big step is so first pole with all the eyeballs of the word on

her because it's the first time we've seen some some live racing this year

it's huge and you could see the emotion from her and her helmet there i think

you know you can't underestimate how much this means to these drivers some of

them you know have been out of racing seats for quite some time and to be

on the f1 calendar for the first time ever for some of them And then to be

putting the car in pole position, that must mean so much.

No, I mean, you talked about it there. I think we've had 11 drivers, haven't we,

that have had podiums this year of the 15. Eight have been race winners. And we

looked at the top three, separated by less than a tenth of a second.

That's how tight it is. Bearing in mind, these cars are, well, they're

equivalent of F4 cars, aren't they? They're about 35 seconds slower than

saw from the F1 cars today.

It just shows you it's a really competitive series by the looks of

super tight. I mean, don't forget, it's a 5 .5. kilometer track with 20 corners

for the difference to be that small means that This competition is obviously

very tight. And as you say, we've had so many different people on the podium, so

many drivers on the podium and so many different race winners as well. So

hopefully we'll get some really exciting racing tomorrow, Simon. Well, I mean,

that was it. I mean, the fact that Barta Garcia, as we said, she's been the

class of the field. There's no doubt about it this year. Jenson, we were

about it there. She had the second pole position snatched away from her. It

means that fourth good enough tomorrow, unless the nearest rival gets the

fastest lap. I cannot wait to see her fighting them off. But the thing is,

got three races.

So it's amazing for her, you know, to be in that position. She can come and have

fun, you know, when she's racing. The other guys are under pressure where

not under pressure at all. It's a great position to be in. Here she comes right

now. Yes, she is.

Come on in.

Well,

congratulations. One pole.

So another two points. Fourth is good enough. Unless your nearest rival, as we

were just talking about, gets the fastest lap in that first race.

It's nearly there, isn't it?

I mean, yeah.

Let's see. I don't want to see too much, though.

But, yeah, it's been a good qualifying.

Shame for that P1 pole on that second quali, but I think it was okay.

Really close.

Just hoping for tomorrow, first race, try to do as much.

As I can, and then try to get the championship win.

How challenging was it out there? Because you guys obviously had practice

early this morning. The temperature's a lot hotter. The F1 cars have been out

there, more grip on the track. How much of a difference did you feel in the car?

I mean, it's much more grippy right now than it was in the morning when we were

at 8 .15. It was so much dust.

So, yeah, quite much more grippy, thanks to the F1 cars.

Yeah, that's basically it.

I'm going to ask you a general question, because I love that you're disappointed

with not getting the second bowl position.

True racing driver, I love that.

How has it been this year? You know, this is the first race.

that i've watched um or first qualifying and it's great to see how competitive

it is we spoke to susie earlier and she said the start of the year there's quite

big gaps and now it seems very competitive are you enjoying this this

championship is it is it doing what you hoped it would for you yeah for sure

obviously as you said uh susie knows also uh in the first races there was a

of a gap between all of the drivers but now as you can see it's really close

like the pole was super close less than one cent and yeah i'm enjoying a lot of

one academy i think it's great for the young women as well that want to get

single -seaters, you know, to try to experiment, try to work also with those

teams like Crema, Campos, you know, like F2F3 teams. And I think they are doing

great, and they are also doing some other stuff like Discover Your Drive and

Champions of the Future.

So I think it's going in the right direction.

How much do you want to win this championship this weekend? Because it's

obviously a little bit bittersweet. We didn't get to watch the whole season on

live television like we do this weekend, but...

The drivers are going to race seven races, therefore, next year.

And with the support of the teams in this paddock, if you win this weekend,

you're not allowed to come back. It must be bittersweet a little bit, isn't it?

Yeah, I mean, that's true, actually, because this year we didn't get

broadcasted. But I think at the end of the day, what I got is experience, track

time, and so many other things.

But yeah, obviously...

It would have been better if it would have been already this year, but I'm

that the young girls and every other girls racing are going to get it next

I think we're going to bring in for a live presentation of the pole position

the first race. Let's bring in Esteban Ocola, Mario Isola from Pirelli. Come on

in. And if you could, present Marta with yet another pole position. Well

done. Come on into the middle.

Congratulations. Good luck.

There we go.

I didn't say hi.

Hi, how are you?

No worries. It's all happening here, isn't it?

We'll step out of the way for the photographers.

And then one more, I think, to Martha just before.

She goes off. Maybe we can have a word with Jessica, shall we? Yeah, this is

fantastic to see. I mean, this means a lot to these young drivers, that these

drivers are supporting them in these moments.

This is what's going to make the difference. People are going to see this

online. People are going to be watching this moment.

And we need eyeballs on women's sports.

There you go. You were presenting a tire a couple of weeks ago.

I'm wandering randomly over here.

Congratulations. Can I just bring you in, Jessica? You were on it all day,

quickest in the open practice session today.

And then to take that right at the end, we just talked to Marta.

appeared off just to do her debrief but that how special was that yeah it was

really special because usually quali isn't my strongest part um and i just

lap together and was Paul, so I'm really happy.

Excellent. Well, the racing is obviously, you think it's your strength,

put yourself in a great position.

Turn one here is always a lot of fun.

Staying out of trouble is key, but I'm really looking forward to seeing you,

of you go at it tomorrow.

This is such a fun track to race on. Good in qualifying, but the racing here

fantastic. And in the cars that you're racing, similar to an F4 car, you're

going to be wheel -to -wheel for the whole race. So I'm looking forward to

and I hope you are as well.

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the race. because I think it'll be really

close. We're all quite close on time, so hopefully it'll be good racing.

Congratulations. It was your first pole position of the season, and what a great

place and time to do it.

How much of that has come down to hard work? Because obviously this whole

season, everybody has been progressing towards this moment.

How much hard work did it take to get this pole position today?

Oh, yeah, it took a lot of hard work.

Practicing Qualisims on the simulator back at Carlin, and we've been working

really hard on it because that's where I struggle the most. So, yeah, a lot of

hard work has gone in from me and all of my team as well.

Quick one. Has the phone been ringing off the hook? I mean, all weekend, this

the first time you've got to perform live, I suppose, in front of family and

friends. Are they watching it from here? Have you got family and friends over

here? Yeah, they've all been watching me. My brother's on a flight to Italy,

he missed my qualifying, but he's been watching my practices.

Well done today.

Best of luck for the races this weekend. Fantastic. That was real drama late on.

Well done. Next up is Ted with the notebook, looking back on F1's

Of course, Charles Leclerc took pole position. Thanks, man. Thanks to you,

James. And thanks to you for watching at home. But there we go. Dramatic end.

Marta Garcia on pole position for the first race tomorrow. We'll see you then.

Bright and breezy for us here in Austin. But in the afternoon for you back in

the UK. We'll see you in a bit. Bye -bye.