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The F1 Academy Series can be settled today. What a season it has been. And

the first time, the girls get an opportunity to compete on a Formula One

for the final round here in Austin.

Welcome along to Texas. Welcome along to Austin.

It's going to come down to the wire. I can't wait to see how this one goes.

Hamda Al -Khobaisi making a move.

Hamda Al -Khobaisi takes the win.

Lina Buller down the inside into third one. Buller gets the job done.

Garcia up into the slipstream of the Guerrero Baltic. But who's going to win

this race? Is it going to be Garcia or Buller? It's Garcia, our championship

leader, as we head into the final round in Austin, Texas.

Two fantastic qualifying sessions yesterday and today all about Marta

Can she get the job done? Three races remaining all over this final round here

in Austin. She needs just 16 points and she's on pole position for race one. I

am delighted to say I'm joined by two former W Series drivers in the form of

Naomi Schiff and delighted to have Jamie Chadwick with us this weekend who is

fresh from testing.

her Andretti NXT or Indy NXT car for next year, I should say, but also a

-time winner of the W Series. You know what it's like to compete on these

Formula One weekends.

What a great opportunity it is for these girls.

It's so special, especially here at Austin. We had our last race here in

and it's such a great event. It's great for them as well. Of course, they're

going to have all their races on the F1 weekend next year.

To start this last year off or the first year off here in Austin is going to be

great for them. A huge amount of eyeballs, as we were saying yesterday.

about 440 ,000 people here over the course of the weekend. So if you want to

showcase your channel, your talents, attract sponsors, this is the place to

it. Absolutely. And I think it's going to be really spurring these drivers on.

lot of people always ask what they can do to help women's sports grow. And

honestly, just having the eyeballs on the sport is a really good way to start.

It's a problem that, you know, everyone at home can be a part in helping. Just

turn on, just watch, show up to the races, be in the grandstand to support

girls. And then in turn, investors will be realizing that there's actually an

opportunity. support these girls. Age between 16 and 25, you competed against,

both competed against a few of them in WC. Talk to me about Marta and the job

that she's done this year, Jamie. She's done a great job. She's obviously one of

the more experienced drivers on the field, but she's done a really, really

job. And of course, Putting it on pole position as well, I think she's really

put herself in the best position today.

And I think the whole grid, it's great that we've got more experienced girls,

but also some of the younger talent that first year in cars and they get to race

at tracks like this here at Kota.

Yeah, I mean, let's just have a quick look then and bring you up to date with

how it's all panned out over the course of the year. And it has actually been

spread reasonably evenly here. We've seen eight drivers.

take a race win. 11 drivers take podiums over the course of the seven -race

season with Marta Garcia, the class of the field, as we've said, with six race

wins to her name. And that means that she leads the way by 50 points over her

nearest driver, Lina Bula, the Swiss driver.

The best place of the Brit is Abbey Pulling.

Further down, though, one of the stories of yesterday was Jessica Edgar. She's

just 18 years of age, and she snatched pole position for the third race, which

will take place tomorrow, off Marta Garcia, right at the end. It was

stuff. It really was, with the sun setting.

In the teams, these are all storied teams in Formula 2, all committing to

long term. And at the moment, the two in with the shout of the constructors, or

the teams.

Our MP Motorsport Prima Racing, and with Marta Garcia's pole position yesterday,

it was 21 points the difference. It is now just 19.

Right, as we said, our championship leader is Marta Garcia, and she sat down

with her earlier this week.

So Martha, it is so good to see you again on what is set to be a really

important weekend for F1 Academy, but also a really important weekend for you.

I mean, of course, it's been amazing.

Well,

there are 15 women on the grid.

yourself one of them as well there's been plenty of different race winners

season so how would you compare your competition or how would you rate your

competition well of course i think the competition is quite cool um because um

we have also amber inverted grip from the top eight so it's been quite

interesting to see that um because um obviously if you are p8 on the

on the first qualifying then you start p1 on the second race So it's really

interesting because at the end of the day, maybe the drivers that were not so

fast in the qualifying or are not that fast are just in the top. So if you come

from pole and then you come from P8 on the second race, you have to try to go

get in the top three. So it's quite interesting. I think the level top five,

six is quite high.

It's quite interesting.

But it's been quite cool to do these inverted braces as well. And I think

been really, really cool. a race with all the girls.

This weekend is what it comes down to.

So what have you got to do to win it?

Well, I think what I need to do, basically, let's put it easy way, if

everything, I should just do 18 points over the whole weekend and then I will

champion. So what sets F1 Academy apart in terms of what they're doing for young

women in the sport, whether that be drivers, mechanics, engineers, how are

changing the game?

For example, our team manager is a girl.

I know some other teams have a girl team manager. They are trying to do their

best. They are trying to put a lot of girls in, not just drivers, because at

end of the day, of course, if an academy is just girls driving.

But I think apart from that, you can see a lot of mechanics, girls, engineers.

My team manager is also an engineer from one of our teammates.

So I think, obviously, they are doing a great job, and I think it's just going

to go better and better, and we're going to see probably more. woman in the

future.

Well, Marta, if you do win this weekend, it seems like that's going to be

slightly bittersweet because, of course, while you'll win the title, it does

also mean that you won't be allowed to come back to F1 Academy next year in a

year for them that's going to be so transformational. They're going to be

with F1 at each of their race weekends. But also, 10 of the teams are committing

to have a car in their livery and a driver in their colors. So how do you

about that?

Yeah, of course, it will have been great to have it this year, of course.

Also, the visibility that the drivers are going to have. I think next year is

going to be amazing and all of the work that F1 teams are going to do and F1

Academy, they are doing an amazing job. I know what they're doing and it's

amazing for the young drivers.

But yeah, of course, for me, I need to move on.

If I win the championship, of course, I want to go higher. I want to go to

another category.

And I know F1 Academy is going to help the champion.

to progress to other categories because that's the goal at the end of the day

for Evon Academy.

But yeah, I think it's going to be a great season next year as well for Evon

Academy. I will be supporting it in some kind of way, I'm sure.

Yeah.

Okay, well, Martha, on that note, I'm wishing you the very best of luck for

weekend and it has been fantastic chatting to you as always.

Thank you, Nam.

Jamie, you'll know what she's feeling right now. What will she be going

I mean, it's almost done. She's on pole position, but she's still got to get out

there and do the job.

She does, but she's in the best place.

We all know term one here at Austin, it's a bottleneck.

The best place to be is out front.

She puts the odds in her favour. She's going to give herself the chance to be

Lily's trouble in this race. So, yeah, I think she can get ahead. She's got a

lot of confidence, clearly. She's done the hardest bit. She's qualified on

So, yeah, I'd say just enjoy it for now. I was going to say, stay out of

trouble. She can afford to play it conservatively, but I should imagine,

all racing drivers, all she wants to do is win.

I mean, she'll definitely be pushing for the win. But the good thing, like you

say, there's three races. There's another one later today and another one

tomorrow. So for her to get the 16 points that it seems she needs to get to

this championship, playing it safe might be the best way to go. Because you

don't want to end the race out of the points when she could easily bag this by

even finishing fourth today. So I think she's got not that much pressure on her

shoulders. Just keep it clean, get through turn one, put your head down and

for the flag.

There's a lot of fans out early. We can see all the way on the top of the hill

there.

Quite a lot in the Formula 1, a lot of on -track overtaking here. It's set up

for that. And actually, when you look at the size of these cars, in comparison

to the Formula 1 cars, there's room for those overtakes. Definitely. And these

cars slipstream quite well. So if you look at the exit of Turn 11, there's a

long straight, big braking zone into Turn 12. So we've seen really good

in this championship all year. It's nice that we can now cover it and showcase

that. And I'm sure it's going to be a good race today.

What are your favourites, Naomi? She's going to get the job done, isn't she, in

this first one?

Well, look, she's been quick all weekend long, qualifying.

You know, she put it on pole. She put it second place for the race tomorrow.

So she's got the speed.

She's got the experience. She knows this track.

I think the odds are in her favour today. There we go. Just a final few

from a race engineer and boss.

Martha Garcia, as we said, just needs 16 points fourth.

And this will probably do it for her, unless her nearest rival gets faster

that.

And welcome to live coverage of F1 Academy from Austin, Texas. It's the

round of the season and it's race day. And the day we could well crown the

ever F1 Academy champion.

But first, they must tackle the first of two races that we have here at the

Circuit of the Americas today. And this is the track they will be tackling, all

15 drivers. It's the second longest circuit of the F1 Academy calendar. It's

hectic lap as well for the drivers to navigate.

corners the most of any track that we've been to this season anti -clockwise

incredibly bumpy and undulating with a huge incline to deal with on your way up

to turn one over a hundred foot incline before you then head through the blind

entry of turn one downhill towards turn two and the center s is then three four

five six beckon the roller coaster ride that resembles maggot Beckett and

Chappell from Silverstone there though is your leader in the title fight Marta

Garcia she currently needs to finish at least fourth in this race if her nearest

rival lena bulla wins all garcia needs is a fourth place finish she needs a 37

point lead after this race to secure the title and she's got the best seat in

the house starting from pole position and this is abby pulling alongside her

the pink road in carlin she's backed by the alpine f1 academy and they will

share the front row we'll run you through the grid shortly but you can

what that incline looks like from uh the standing star on the grid. We'll get

the formation lap just like you see in other racing series and in Formula One.

This is Nerea Marti who starts just behind our pole sitter in third. And

Marti actually had a bit of a...

Up and down practice session with suspected suspension damage, losing her

of track time, but still able to convert that into a decent start on the grid.

There, though, is the second -placed woman in the standing, Lena Buller. She

needs to be able to outscore Marta Garcia

by... Quite a few points, 12 points she needs to outscore Marta Garciabai if she

wants to stand a chance of taking the title to race two.

So there is a lot to ask there for Leina Buller and Handa Al -Khobayzi, who will

start down in eighth place on the grid. She also needs a really good result to

try and continue the title fight after this race. She needs, at the very least,

a race win.

It is getting hot on the grid as well. Track temperature, 24 .9 degrees. Air

temperature, 22 .9 degrees as well, and only getting hotter.

Guiding you through all the coverages, myself, Harry Benjamin, and this, if

you're new to F1 Academy, well, this is the first of three races that we will

have. Race one and two today, and then race three on Sunday. Race one and three

are where the big Grand Prix -style points are handed out.

25 points for the win, 18 for second, all the way down to one point.

or 10th place. Let's hear from Amna Al -Khobaisi.

Shake and bake.

Shake and bake.

Shake and bake. Fantastic encouragement there from her

engineer on the MP Motorsport pit.

wall starting a little bit further down is Amna Al -Khobaiti down in 12th but 15

drivers on the grid this is when the big points are handed out in race one and

again in race three and we could well crown our championship

title winner come the end of this race Charlotte Phelps watching on from the

lane as well she's one of the lead engineers on Amelie de Host's car at MP

Motorsport Amelie de Host starting a little bit further down as well in 11th

But they've got a lot to tackle. 5 .5 kilometers, 3 .4 miles around this

of the America's Track. It's a challenging circuit.

It's technical and tricky. But that is what F1 Academy has set out to do across

the season calendar is to test our drivers to their physical and mental

maximum and try to get the most out of themselves and the team. But formation

lap then underway.

No mandatory pit stops in F1 Academy. If you find yourself in the pits, it's

usually due to an issue. So we are not expecting any pit stops.

12 laps, we will see, or a maximum of half an hour. And this is how they will

line up for race one. Starting 15th and last for Campos will be Maite Cáceres.

She is the Uruguayan racer, currently bottom in the standing.

Then the next row, shared by Carrie Schreiner and Megan Jilkes in her final

races of her professional career, before she takes up an engineering role at

Aston Martin.

Able to host an Alcavesi.

MP Motorsport, 11th and 12th.

In 10th, it's Lola Longfoss who starts just behind Chloe Grant in 9th for ART.

Then comes Handa Alkabasi, the first of our title contenders from 8th. She's

behind Chloe Chong.

Bianca Bustamante is sixth. Recently joined the McLaren F1 driver program.

She's behind Jess Edgar, who starts fifth. Jess Edgar has been on it so far

terms of pace.

Leina Bullock from fourth. She has won a race from lower down on the grid. She's

behind Nerea Marci. And there is your front row. Abby Pulling and her fifth

of the year. And the woman who leads the standing, Martha Garcia.

Starts from pole position. She has never lost a race from pole this season. A

lot of pressure on Martha Garcia.

Let's hear what she had to say.

It will mean a lot, of course.

I think I did a lot of work this year, so hard, with the team, with the team,

everything. And it's been hard, you know. And just being able to win the

championship the first time would be like crazy, would be like mega.

Well, there is Marta Garcia then, currently with a 50 -point gap at the

the standing. She needs at least a 37 -point gap come the end of this race. So

it is all looking...

Rather neat and tidy for Marta Garcia, but we will keep you across how all the

permutations lie as this race unfolds. Absolutely no idea what we are expecting

here, but coming into this weekend as well, we've announced the calendar for

next year. F1 Academy will be back for a second season with Devon Rounds, all

supporting the Formula One racing as well, starting off in Saudi Arabia and

finishing off in Abu Dhabi with visits to Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort,

Singapore, and Qatar in between. Not to mention... that all 10 Formula One teams

will have an F1 Academy driver and livery in 2024 with the

remaining five drivers not supported by an F1 team will be supported by others.

Big name partners from Formula One and F1 Academy.

So fantastic work from all of the F1 Academy team headed up by, of course,

Wolfe. That was Stephanie Carlin, team principal of the Roden Carlin team.

And there are five teams in F1 Academy, each with three cars in them. Prema,

ARC, MP Motorsport, Roden Carlin and Campos Racing. And MP Motorsport

have a grip on the team standings, but Prema are still in with a shot as we

Getting ready for lights out for race one.

The sun shining down on the grid. The sand slowly starting to fill up. Of

course, we'll have another race later on in the afternoon. Still fairly early in

Kota. Coming up through about 10 o 'clock in the morning local time.

We await from the back row will be Carrie Schreiner, the 25 -year -old

German for ART. She'll start 14th. Maite Caceres.

The 22 -year -old Uruguayan racer lines up at the back, but on the front row

will be Abby Pulling. But on pole, in the red and white framer, it's Marta

Garcia. It's all eyes to the lights and foot to the floor as we go racing in

Austin. Race one.

F1 Academy is going. It's a good start from Garcia, but she's having to come

across to cut off Abby Pulling, who's going to have the inside line. Can

take the lead here? They come oh so close. They just avoid banging wheels.

Garcia getting her elbows out there. Marty coming into play as well in the

campus. Can she make hay while Pulling and Garcia fight?

Three don't go into one as we come into the rollercoaster ride of turns three,

four, and five.

Further back in the pack, it looks like it's been a fairly clean start from all

15 of our drivers.

Marta Garcia doing what she needs to do. Away and well from pulling. Marti, Jess

Edgar in fourth, making a good start.

Bula's lost her position. She's down to fifth. That is not good news for her

championship charge. She's under pressure from the number 16 red and

of Bianca Bustamante. But we're not even halfway around lap one.

out of 12 here in Austin, but Garcia doing everything she needs to do. Lona

Longboss in the number two, having a little look down the inside, coming into

turn 11, slight lock -up, she's right alongside, I think it's Amna Al

Amna Al -Khobaisi just about holds on in front in the number six SP Motorsport

car, then comes...

Kari Schreiner, who's had a good start up from the back row of the grid in

of Emily Dehoest, Megan Jilk and Maite Catherine making up the last two spots.

Still a couple of lock -ups happening. Nerea Marti running out wide at the end

of the back straight. But it's Gardia pulling.

Marti, Edgar, Fula at the top five. Bustamante, Hamda Al -Khobaisi, Chong,

Foss, Amna Al -Khobaisi, the top ten. Then comes Kari Schreiner, Emily

Chloe Grant, Megan Jilk.

And Maita Caceres, 15 at last, a clean start then, as it all starts to

concertine up in that turn one.

But Marta Garcia, right now, doing all she needs to do to clinch the

championship title.

But watch out for Jess Edgar, in the number 11 road in Carnage. She's in

at the moment, she's just in front of Lena Buller. Jess Edgar had a rapid lap

qualifying yesterday, qualifying two.

to take pole position for race three tomorrow.

She's got pace, but she's got Lena Buller behind her, who is still,

theoretically, in with a chance at this title.

She's not going to back down without a fight.

Look at this, then. Lap two.

Flipstream. Dithi. Three wide as we come into turn number one. It's the ART.

It's the MP Motorsport. And it's the Campus Three. Do not go into one. And

that's three cars out. And that is one of our championship contenders, Hamda Al

-Khobaisi, out of this race.

out of turn one alongside is the number three that's Maita Caceres and the

number nine that is Chloe Grant so it's the number five

MP motorsport car apologies not Hamda Akravesi I got a bit excited there

I it's Emily de Hoost who is finding herself in trouble then along with Chloe

Grant and Maita Caceres and Grant jump the

filling in that damage there, and they all tried to go into turn one together.

Carbon fiber off, safety car deployed then, so that will back up the pack.

So, the hosts, Grant and Captain, they're all involved in that incident.

Let's see if any of them are able to get back going again. They could

theoretically make it back to the pit lane and have a change of front wing,

they did like an awful lot of damage, particularly for Aimley to hold there,

they're still there as well.

I think they're interlocked wheels there. Maite Caceres started from the

the pack.

Caceres, who hasn't had a retirement all season long.

And there is a bit of carbon fibre spewed onto the track. But at the end,

of lap two, let's hear it from Caceres first.

Well,

that's what Maite Caceres thinks.

Lap two, then. Safety car is out.

here for Race 1 in F1 Academy, involving Amy Lee to host, Chloe Grant and Maiden

Cassaday. But I'm now very pleased to say that joining me on the coverage for

the commentary of Race 1 is three -time W Series champion, Williams Development

driver, and of course, Indy Next driver, Jamie Chadwick. Welcome, Jamie. How are

you? What have you made of the carnage that we've just seen?

I'm good. I was surprised, to be honest.

Turn one, lap one, they were so well behaved. I think...

That corner, especially, always welcomes, you know, being so wide, cars

it up the inside. And we've seen that just there, obviously, causing a safety

car. So, yeah, Martha's done exactly what she needed to do. She's got her

out just enough to make sure she can stay ahead of Abby Fulling there. But,

yeah, unfortunately, Rizwan doesn't go as he does.

No, not at all.

And, unfortunately, it did involve Emily de Hoos, who has... I

thought she got going there. No, she just pulled over a little bit more. I

Chloe Grant, the other car involved, here she is.

Grant having a little

issue there as well. This is the start, Jamie. If you just want to have a little

look at what caught your eye here on the start.

Honestly, just re -watching that, I think Martha Garcia might have just

across the line there just before the lights went out. I don't know if I

all that, but I think she might have just jumped a little bit too early. But

after that, she did a great job. She squeezed Abby Trolling just enough to be

able to hold a position, but not too much to cause her any stress. And I

that's exactly what she needed to do. She needed to stay out front. She didn't

want to drop behind out in the front. And here, just seeing that incident

it just looks like Caceres was just a little bit ambitious on the inside

Chloe Grant didn't really have much place to go with being sandwiched in

the two cars. So, yeah, frustrating for all three of those drivers.

Yeah, definitely seemed like Grant, the innocent victim in that in the middle,

nowhere to go, a car to her left and a car to her right. And you can see there,

Emily de Host, and there is her engineer, Charlotte Phelps,

looking frustrated.

So, it was a fairly clean start.

Now, we're...

under safety car conditions, Jamie.

For someone like Garcia and those at the front of the pack, especially, what's

going through their minds when you're behind a safety car so early on in the

race?

I think you've obviously got the first part out of the way. You've got the race

start done.

That's the big one could be back. You're now settled in. You know where you feel

like your car's strong. You know what you feel like you're up to speed.

So for Marta, I think she just needs to get her head down. Like I said, she's

done what she needed to do.

That jump start, I'll be interested to see that again.

Hopefully that's not playing on her mind.

And for Abby Pulling, she's not won a race this year. She's hungry for it. You

can tell she had good pace straight off the bat there in those first couple of

laps. So, yeah, she's going to be hunting down the gearbox of Martha for

And, Jamie, this is the first time we really get to have a chat, really, and I

suppose now is the time to do it while we are under a bit of a neutralised

What have you made of F1 Academy so far this year?

Obviously, you were a huge part of the W Series, that not continuing, and F1

Academy coming in place. What have you made of what the championship and the

series has done so far this year?

It's been fantastic. I think something that I've loved, especially with F1

Academy, is seeing these big teams and these big names come into it.

Seeing a Premacar leading ahead of a Carling car, ahead of...

Campos is what we see in the top feeder series. So seeing that now with an all

-female grid is fantastic.

Of course, coming from W Series, I've first -hand seen the benefit of, you

what these series can offer and what they can provide for, you know, young

female talent and their opportunities.

So it's fantastic.

It's great to see them on the F1 package and out here in America as well. So,

yeah, I've loved following it. And obviously, like I said, seeing the

progression of these drivers, there's a lot of very, very young talent coming in

the series for the first time racing in cars.

seeing them progress as well has been great.

Absolutely. Now, I think we can have another look. Can we see if Garcia did

the start?

There's the light.

Have a little look at the number 15, red and white. I think she'll get away with

that. She's all good. I feel bad for calling her out on that. I don't know

I saw initially, but it did look like she might have crept a little bit. But

yeah, no, she's all good there. Great start for her. And like I said, perfect

level of aggression and calculated aggression into turn one and through the

of the first exit to make sure she could hold that lead.

Absolutely. We also saw just in the background of that shot as well, her

teammate, Bianca Bustamante, who had to bail out of it when a space in front of

her disappeared.

We've got the F1 Academy cars out on track, but there's another race going on

off the track as well between the three drivers that find themselves out, sadly,

of this race one. Emily Dehose, Chloe Grant and Maite Cateres. So as the

diggers... get to work in taking those three cars off to host Grant and

Catherine who have found themselves out of this race. They will get two more

chances to race. Race two will get going at 3 .30 local time this afternoon and

the final race of the series of the season will get going on...

Sunday. But Garcia doing all she needed to do.

Jamie, another thing which is really encouraging, you mentioned obviously

supporting Formula One next year as well on the calendar as Tommy Hilfiger also

watching on with Susie Wolfe, Managing Director of F1 Academy.

So some high profile people watching on. And the good news is that next year,

Jamie, all 10 F1 teams are going to have an affiliated driver and a livery as

well on one car for every team next season. That's fantastic news, isn't it?

It really is. And I think I've seen a huge amount of benefit of being a part

the Williams Academy through my career. And I think now seeing that these young

female talents are going to have that same opportunity with all of the F1

having to invest and support all these drivers or 10 of these drivers. It's

great. It's exactly what the sport needs. I think having that support and

backing is only going to accelerate their development and everything that

need going forward. So I think it's great. It's amazing stuff.

really testament to what Susie's managed to do with the series in only year one

so it's great to have that obviously on the up on package here but I think it's

only going to go from strength to strength for next year.

Absolutely couldn't agree more and another look at another nice little this

the incident wasn't it I think you called it right Jamie quite bold on the

inside and Grant just nowhere to go and then Emily Dehost on the outside

already with Hands in the air. Not happy with that one. Helmets off.

And I'm sure a few words exchanged off track as well. But all three of those

drivers now out of this race, though they're on the restart, will have 12

remaining. So hopefully we won't be too much longer before we can get back

underway. If it ended like this, Martha Garcia scoring 25 points.

to her name she would take the title uh lena bulla need to at least outscore

marta garcia by 12 points and at the moment bulla who is down in fifth not

to do so um talking of uh f1 uh links as the stewards are not investigation

investigating that incident um do you first of all jamie do you agree with

was it more of a rating incident for you Definitely a bit of a racing influence.

I'd feel a little bit hard done by as far as Emily's a house. I think she's an

innocent bystander on the outside. But it did look a little bit like Grant was

covering it quite late. And it just is that natural pinch point at turn one

that, you know, two doesn't go into one always and three definitely doesn't go

into one.

Yeah, I'm happy to see that as a racing incident. Like I said, Emily, the house

will feel a bit hard done by and also for the team championship. That's a big

blow for MP.

It really is as well. MP who do currently lead the standing over in the

track. That is the big profile thing that we see, isn't it? Trying to get

women involved as drivers.

And Bianca Bustamante, who's currently in sixth place for Prema in this race,

she's just joined the McLaren F1 driver development program ahead of another

season in F1 Academy.

But I suppose, Jamie, it's not just about...

Who's driving the car? I know that's what you'll be focused on, but we're

trying to encourage more female talent up in the backroom staff role, I

in performance and engineering.

And Megan Jilkes is actually a really good example in this race. She's

12th, but this will be the final races of her professional racing career before

she hangs her helmet up. But she's doing that to go and pursue an engineering

role at the Aston Martin Formula One team, which I think is equally

She's found her role and she's going to make an F1 car. Absolutely.

And I heard Danica actually say it yesterday. I think that's something

great about getting this experience. Obviously, we want to be professional

racing drivers. All of these young guys are going to want to be reaching Formula

One if they can. But if not, you know, the sport is so vast and gaining this

experience, in -car experience and, you know, time behind the wheel, that's the

time that not many people get. And it's going to be hugely valuable in any form

of role in the sport that you can hopefully go for.

Absolutely. So we wish Megan Jilkes all the best, but she's still got this race

and two more to go.

And Jilkes may well be looking for a podium finish to end her racing career.

She's had a best result of a couple of fifth places so far this season, but

really it's up front where Martha Garcia has been the class of the field. But at

a track like this, Jamie, I mean, you've raced here a couple of times, of

course, and you've done rather well around here as well. It's a tricky

right?

It's made up of such different types of corners and influenced from other racing

circuits from around the world.

It is a tricky track and it's also very bumpy, which you can kind of see, but it

does make it technically quite challenging as well. But I think one of

characteristics of this track that I find quite interesting is it's full of

quite high speed flowing corners, but then the last section is quite tight and

technical. So putting a lap together actually to be...

everything you want and from the balance of the car and everything is quite

tricky. And in these cars, especially, you're in the corners for so long.

You know, lap time is two minutes, ten seconds for roundabouts. I think Paul

two minutes, eight seconds.

It's a long lap, so to put it all together, lap on lap, obviously it's a

race for them, but to get it put together, hooked up, isn't easy for

Not at all, but the good news is, Safety Car will be coming in at the end of

this lap, so at some stage, Garcia will let the Mercedes Safety Car go, and then

she will become the leader of the pack and control the pace.

I suppose, Jamie, because we've had a couple of Safety Car laps, they've been

able to preserve tyre life, so...

We could get an out -and -out scrap towards the end of this race.

It should be. And, I mean, in the championships in this car, it generally

up being 100 % pushing all the time, which is what we want to see. We like

And, yeah, for sure now, I think, with only six, seven laps remaining after

this, they're going to be pushing to the end. And, like I said, Abby Pullen's

going to have the bit between her toes. I think she showed really good pace on

that opening first lap. If she can stay right under the gearbox and master, get

a good restart.

The slipstream's strong here. This long straight you see them on now going down

into turn 12, that's where you can pound. So, yeah, they're going to be

it hard. Keep the tyre warm and ready to restart.

Well, that's what Martha Garcia is being told on the radio then.

Get the tyre temperatures up to speed, and she now does start to slow down to

let the safety car pelt away, driven by Bert Meyerlander. But it'll be all about

when can she go. Can she... Abby pulling napping as they make their way through

the the arena section inspired by the Hockenheim racetrack coming through the

really challenging turn 15 lockups there in fact also track limits being watched

there like a hawk but now backing up the pack Garcia ahead of pulling ahead of

Marty and as she heads into turn 16 Garcia is not waiting around and she has

gone and we are back underway here in F1 Academy for race one at the third Good

start from Garcia, but pulling is right with her as well. In fact, it's Marty

who looks like she's a little bit under pressure.

Marty in the number one campus. Then comes Jess Hedger. Then, Lena Buller,

currently lies second in the championship. She'll be doing all she

and get some overtaking because she has to outscore Marta Garcia by at least 12

points to stand a chance of taking this championship title to the next race. And

at the moment, she is not doing that. She has a little look down the inside,

though, of Jess. Edgar early doors and that looked like a fairly clean move

Lena Buller. Edgar trying to fight back but Buller's through and up to fourth.

Nicely done from Lena Buller and I think she has to get a move on. She's seeing

that promo card get away and she knows that that's her championship slipping

away so she's got to get a move on. She's got to get her head down.

Garcia I think is in a nice comfortable position after that restart. Timed it

well but Pullen's going to be going for her for sure.

Yeah, Buller then up to fourth. She's behind Marty.

Edgar Smith now.

Bustamante and Hamda Al -Khabasi also in that scrap. Then there's a bit of a gap

to Chloe Chong in eighth. Then Hamda Al -Khabasi, Lola Lovenfoss, the top ten.

And that is the last of the point scorers.

Schreiner and Jilk, 11th and 12th, with no De Hoest or Grant or Maite Caterers

in this race after that incident in third one. Here we go then. The

you were talking about, Jamie Garcia.

Hasn't been able to shake Abbey Pulling off.

Can Pulling find a way through here? No DRS in these kind of F1 Academy cars. So

all you can hope for is good traction and lipstream. Garcia doesn't feel the

need to defend.

But Pulling had a little think about it right at the end there. As Nerea Marti

locked up massively coming out of the back straight. Can that allow Elena

a way through? Cars running wide further back.

Marti holding on for the time being. But Buller is... Ready to pass. Is she

going to try and dive down the inside?

No. Pulling had a little look though. But locked up in doing so. This race.

I'm not sure. We're only on lap 7 at all. But I think everything can change.

Exactly, and this is playing really well into the hands of Marta and Abby here.

I think they're able to get ahead as Nerea having to fend quite heavily from

Lena Buller with a couple of mistakes there. I think Pullen's got a good pace

advantage, I think. She can be a bit patient here. I don't think she needs to

locking up just yet. She can find her strengths, find Marta's weaknesses and

work out where to attack, whereas Lena Buller has to get a move on because

top two are breaking away.

Absolutely. Well, with five laps left to go, Marta Garcia comes across the line

and she takes the fastest lap at 2 .091. And fastest lap does mean an extra

point here. But coming uphill then into turn one, Lena Buller to the inside of

Nerea Marti. How close do they get? There's nothing between them. They both

out wide on the exit, but Buller's through on Marti. Buller up to third,

down to fourth. And Edgar is looking all over the back of Nerea Marti now. The

number one Campos under pressure here from the number 11 road.

That's a great move from Lena Bullock and exactly what she needed to do.

really nicely executed. Just getting her head down. I think that's...

position for her. She's got pace. She needs to get her head down before those

top two can break away.

All smiles as well on the pit wall. Susie Wolfe there with a certain Lewis

Hamilton watching on. He paid a visit to the F1 Academy paddock a little earlier

on in the weekend to say hello to them. Back on track though. Marty is not

giving this one up with Lena Buller. Late move to the inside.

Side by side between Buller and Marty. Buller has to run wide and keeps the

position in doing so but Marty might well get the better slipstream but she's

having to look behind her as well.

because Jess Edgar is right there. Then there's a little bit of a gap to Bianca

Bustamante, but they nearly go three wide. It's Buller in the number seven,

though, who is just ahead.

Edgar will have the inside on Marty at the end of the straight. Edgar to the

inside. Marty forced out wide, but Marty will have the inside line coming

through into turn 13, and she's able to hold on for the time being.

This is a great scrap between all of them, and they're bringing in Bianca

Bustamante and Havzal Kubasius whilst they're at it.

Oh, I thought... Edgar might try something there at the up and under, but

just wasn't quite close enough.

But while Marty's having to defend for her life, that has created a bit of a

to Lena Buller in front, who is now trying to close the gap she has. About

and a half seconds to the top two, Garcia and Abby Pulling, who are still

lead of this race. Garcia ahead of Pulling. Buller then comes in.

battle here. Marti in fourth.

Edgar, who runs out wide massively.

Bustamante follows her. Then comes Hamda Alkabasi, who is the outside contender

in this title, but right now not doing enough to stay within the clutches of

Marta Garcia.

Garcia would still win it as it stands.

Bustamante to the inside of turn one. It gets oh so close between her and Edgar.

Edgar sees her, gives her just enough room, but that's her one. It's proving

be a wonderful overtaking spot for these F1 Academy cars.

It is, and that was really well judged by Jessica Edgar, actually. She saw it

just the last moment, just enough to give her enough room, but to obviously

the position. So this racing's getting spicy.

I'm loving it. This is absolutely brilliant. What a racetrack to come to,

off the final round of the F1 Academy.

Here's Bustamante.

Nice bit of encouragement there. How much, when you've got encouragement over

the radio, Jamie, does it cheer you on?

It can do. It can do, but you're a driver, you want to be going forwards,

Bianca can see her gearbox in front of her, so she wants to be getting past,

doesn't want to be sitting behind her. I think, like I said, this place lends

itself to a lot of over -taking opportunities, and I think seeing them

those moves is fantastic, but I think now we need to work out how we can

actually execute them, how we can get past without doing track limits, make

move stick and move forwards.

Pulling. Into the braking zone. Getting a little bit wobbly at the rear, though.

She came into the braking zone at the end of the back straight. Still not able

to find a way past Marta Garcia. That gap has stayed at around the 4 .5

half a second mark. But she does close in under braking. But Garcia not

under the pressure. Quite a mature drive so far from Garcia.

Really good drive so far. I think she's just doing what she needs to do. She's

consistent enough.

Pulling is very strong in that braking zone into Turn 12. So that's where I

think if she's going to make a move anywhere, Bianca's showing her nose a

bit, but I think this is the battle that's going to heat up more. Pulling,

I said, looks strong into Turn 12.

Whether she can make a move or if Marcia's too cool for it, I don't know.

yeah, it's going to get spicy at the end of this race. Hey, Jess, you were half

a second quicker than Marcia on the last lap. Come on, you can get her.

More encouragement this time for Jeff Edgar who is involved in that brilliant

squabble for fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. It's just in the back of your

picture here.

Edgar in fifth, then comes Bustamante, then Hamda Al -Khabasi, but Marti and

Bula aren't too far up the road either.

Bula hasn't been able to close in on pulling once she finally got through on

Marti, so Bula then just having to settle for the final spot on the podium

currently stands, but now it seems that Edgar might be slightly on the back

foot. She's fallen back from Marti, and Bustamante, who just... Finds the

McLaren F1 theme development programme next year ahead of a switch to the ART

team in F1 Academy. So brilliant to see Bustamante coming back for a second

season. And she's looking like she's got the slight upper hand at the moment.

She does. And I think just as Jessica is going to drop out of that slipstream,

it's going to leave her a bit vulnerable, especially into this long

straight here into Turn 12. So I think that's going to give Bianca Bustamante

opportunity maybe on the break.

Garcia. With another fasted lap as well. That does bring you an extra point. So

she's scoring maximum points as it currently stands.

But Damante through on Edgar.

She's done it. So she's managed to get it down at turn 11 as they came on to

back straight. And Edgar now falling victim to Handa Al -Khawazi. Handa Al

-Khawazi on the inside in the all -orange MP motorsport car. She tucks in

just to try and get a little bit more toe.

But she's not far enough along. Under braking.

Edgar closes right in again on Bustamante. And Edgar holds on. But

to fifth. Edgar in sixth. And Handa Al -Khawazi down to seventh.

And this is how she did it, Jamie.

Yeah, it was just Jessica Ekham making a mistake, actually. Big lock -up,

running wide, opening the door for Bianca Bustamante to come through. And

she did a good job to hold off Hamda Al -Khabesi, who I think could have shown

her nose a little bit more down there into Turn 12.

Yeah, currently still in 7th there, Hamda Al -Khabesi, just behind Edgar

Garcielis. This is our front pairing ahead of pulling. Then there's a bit of

gap, three seconds or so, to Boula, Marti, Bustamante, the top five, Edgar,

Hamda Al -Khabesi, Chloe Chong, who's having a nice race, actually, at 8th.

Alba Basie and Lola Lovins -Foss round out the top ten as the seven -time F1

champion, showing interest in this, which is absolutely brilliant to see.

been really supportive of F1 Academy so far this weekend and all year long.

They're a fantastic team out here supporting the racing. Schreiner and

last two cars still in this race, just outside of the points. We've lost to

Host, Grant and Maita Caceres after an incident. Three into one, do not go.

I bet you can win this race, come on.

Pulling. Being wheeled on, looking for her first win of the season. But the

woman in front of her is the woman going for the title. So there are high stakes

here. But pulling, what can pulling do, Jamie? Is it just a pace deficit or can

she try and almost force Garcia into making a little bit of a mistake?

Yeah, I think she needs to get a little bit closer, pressurise her a little bit

more, try and force a mistake. I've not seen a single lock -up from Martha.

She's driving a really clean race. Meanwhile, Abby.

It's punting her down, but that's why the gap is ebbing and flowing, because

she's able to make big, you know, chunks and gain quite a bit on Martha, but

then she loses a little bit with a little mistake.

So, yeah, just a little bit more consistency from Abby, forced Martha

mistake, but she's got a lap and a half to go. I think it's going to be hard for

her now.

Yes, it was just the first few laps after the safety part was really close

together and getting quite spicy. The gaps have now just started to peak out.

Except for this one, Tulling has stayed with Garcia at around about the half a

second mark for pretty much all of this race. So we've not been behind us 80

past. So it's been a fabulous drive from both of them. But Tulling just needs to

find a way through. Garcia could make any kind of mistake. But Garcia, who has

six wins already to her name, going for a seventh, took a fifth pole position

this weekend. Nine podiums to her name already with a fantastic season of

results under her belt.

as being the driver to beat from the get -go. There hasn't once been a time when

she's not led the standing.

But despite that, Jamie, it's been such a competitive year, actually. 11 out of

the 15 drivers have stood on the podium.

8 out of the 15 drivers have won a race.

And that's no mean feat.

It really isn't, and I think it just shows the level of competitiveness and

much a lot of these girls have come on as well. I think experience is

everything, and one of the great things about this F1 Academy format is they're

getting a lot of seat time, they're getting a lot of racing experience, so

they're able to really develop and improve as races go on. So whilst we

seen Marta up front, and she's done an unbelievable job, and deservedly so,

great to see the rest of the pack as well chip away at her and get that gap

closer.

Final lap.

Just five kilometers or three miles left for Martha Garcia to try and convert

pole into a seventh win this season. But it's not just the win it would bring

her. It would also be the inaugural F1 Academy title. If she could hold on.

Pulling is still hounding her and has been. And the gap's starting to come

She's got a good bit of traction coming out of turn 11. Down the back straight.

Can she utilize the tow? Bula, second in the championship at the moment, not

doing enough to keep it alive.

And this is where Abby's really strong, the breaking zone down into here. She's

far back, but I wouldn't be surprised if she at least shows her nose on the

breaking zone down here.

Is she going to have a little look?

Can Pulling go late on the brakes, dive down the inside of Garcia. She's going

to have a little try on it. Garcia sees her coming, both a little bit tempted

about whether to turn in or not.

Pulling, bails out of that one.

Garcia lives to fight another day. But with only just a couple of corners left

to go, she's running out of time to find a way through. Is Abby pulling? That

was one of her best shots. And now, a little bit of a lock -up there as they

come into the left -hander of turn 15.

And really, she needs to be a lot closer to try and make any kind of move coming

through the final two corners.

Further back, Bustamante is right onto the back of Nerea Marti now for fourth

place. Just a few tenths. between them but with a couple of corners left to go

pulling is not going to be able to do this it's been a mighty drive from both

them but out of the final corner foot to the floor for marta garcia who wins

race one in f1 academy and in doing so becomes the first champion of f1

academy your 2023 drivers champion the team celebrate they knew it

was coming it's been a faultless year the F1 drivers are out in force watching

Lewis Hamilton George Russell we've seen Esteban Ocon as well in qualifying but

what a result for Marta Garcia flawless run Jamie wasn't it Absolutely, and so

well -deserved. That was an amazing drive from her to lead out front. She

under pressure the whole way, not a single mistake. She did exactly what she

needed to do.

Yeah, very, very classy drive and a very, very well -deserved champion. And

huge congratulations to Prima as well for taking the first team championship,

sorry, driver's championship of F1 Academy.

Yeah, it's been a fantastic season for Marta Garcia, who came alive.

She took pole and won race one of round one.

Back at the Red Bull ring towards the end of the year. And since then, she has

been unstoppable.

Not really been off the podium at all. Here she is.

Thank you.

Oh, my God.

Yes, Martita, yes.

Bravo, bravo.

Bravo, Marta, bravo, Marta. Very good, very good. You win. You win the

championship, yeah.

I think the squeals were

very... Very, very indicative of how much that means to her.

I mean, Jamie, you've been in her shoes.

What do we hope this brings for Marta Garcia going forward? Because it means

can't come back to the series next year.

Yeah, it does. But at the same time, it's a huge opportunity for her. You

she's proved herself on the stage. She's proved what she's capable of. And with

that, I think it's going to become a huge opportunity. So I'm very excited

her. She deserves it.

I've raced against her before.

She doesn't show a huge amount of emotion, so it's nice to see her, you

celebrating there.

And like I said, whatever's next for her and whatever next steps she's able to

get as a result of, you know, F1 Academy, I think it's going to be

see her progress up.

And Abby Pulling is second as well in the pink road in Carlin. She's backed by

the Alpine F1 team. Has looked fast from the get -go as well this weekend.

Second place was there.

Do you think she'll be a bit frustrated she couldn't quite take the win?

I think she will, but she's a respectful driver and I think she knew there's

probably a bit too much risk in going for that move, especially at the end.

will be frustrating because all year I feel like she's had a lot of pace and

hasn't been able to convert it into a win. But we have two races left, so it's

still yet to do for her. Thank you everyone for everything this year.

Yeah, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you. Very good, very good. I'm happy.

And thanking everybody because it is a keen effort.

And Marta Garcia then pulls up in the number one spot.

The inaugural F1 Academy champion, Marta Garcia, does it in

Austin, takes the crown.

And what will follow for this young Spanish racer, just 21 years old.

The future is looking very, very bright indeed as she clambers out of her Prima.

And I'm sure she'll be in a rush to celebrate with her team.

Celebrate, arms in the air, almost can't believe it. And you can almost tell how

hard she's had to work for that.

Her nearest championship rival in the end was Lena Buller, who couldn't quite

it, but she did manage to get onto the podium. Buller, who has had a really

year as well.

Abby Pulling there, celebrating with Alice Powell, her driver coach.

And all smiles down there and straight away.

Marta Garcia to the team and absolutely fantastic but of course Jen we've still

got two more races left to run exactly but that's nice for her she can enjoy it

now but two more races is great to see like I said Abby Pulling showed some

pace there so there's going to be a lot of drivers in that field that felt like

they didn't get the results they wanted so they're going to be hungry for it

We've just seen some great racing. So that's going to for sure continue for

next two.

There is Abby Pulling chatting with Alice Powell. And that's Lewis Hamilton,

just in case you needed reminding.

Having a little chat and getting involved, which is fantastic to see.

And that actually, I mean, Jamie, we talk about it, but that does mean a lot.

Hamilton being down there right by Park Vermeer. That does go a long way.

It really does. I think this industry is changing.

I've been in that position where, you know, you're trying to do what you can

and you're trying to progress. But without the support of the likes of

with the likes of Susie and, you know, these guys at the top of Formula One,

it's not necessarily that easy for you to be able to see what you can do. So,

yeah, you're seeing Lewis congratulate her now and that will be a hugely

moment for sure.

Come here, you. Come here.

We can just listen in to some of the celebrations there.

Wonderful, wonderful news.

I'm sure we can't see it yet, but we will. The smile will be very, very wide

indeed. She celebrates continuously with her Prima theme and does the part

for May Protocols. And great to see fan...

packing out and coming out quite early because the F1 action doesn't kick off

for a little bit, or at least when the race started. So good to see everyone's

getting their prime positions and have enjoyed a wonderful support race in the

form of F1 Academy. This is the first time F1 Academy has supported Formula 1.

in advance of exclusively running an F1 event next season in a seven -round

calendar. But we can now head down to Naomi Schiff, who will be doing the

interviews, and she'll be speaking to our top three. Manta Garcia, a huge

congratulations. You are champion of the inaugural season of F1 Academy.

How are you feeling?

Emotional. I'm so emotional right now. I was riding in the car.

But, yeah, of course, super happy with winning the championship with the team.

Team Prema and all of the hard work we've been doing through the season.

great and I'm just really, really out of words.

Well, you had a start to finish win, but Abby Pulling had the pressure on you

throughout the race. How were you dealing with that in the car?

Yeah, Abby made it harder for me. She was quite quick.

And yeah, I got a bit of pressure in the back from her.

But yeah, just kept the pressure there and just got the win.

Well, it could be time to celebrate, but you do have another race later today

and another one tomorrow. How are you going to tackle those races?

Well, of course, now we have inverted grid. I'm just going to try to make the

best out of it. Now the pressure is a bit gone.

So let's just have fun.

We'll have huge congratulations once again. Well done. Thank you.

Toto Wolf watching on with the F1 Academy Managing Director, Susie Wolf.

on the right -hand side, who was enjoying that race with the two Mercedes

drivers as well. George Russell also making an appearance and Tommy Hilfiger

well, watching on. But that was hearing from your race winner and your 2023 F1

Academy champion, Marta Garcia, who, as you said, Jamie, pressure's a little bit

off now. She can relax, enjoy race two, which comes up at 3 .30 local time. But

of course, it's an inverted grid, so the top eight...

from the qualifying are reversed.

So that is Hamda Alkabasi will start from the reverse grid pole later

on today. So do make sure you join us for that one. And there is where it all

came true for Marta Garcia.

A fantastic effort for her. Last time she was here was with the W Series where

she finished eighth twice.

And now she can upgrade.

That result on her CV.

In the cool -down room, Abby Pulling and Lola Lovenfoss, second and third.

Not Lola Lovenfoss, my apologies, Lena Buller in third.

Lovenfoss was a little bit further down. But can we have a little listen in and

see what they say about the start?

So bad.

Maybe they did it before.

Buller not happy with her start then.

What happened?

Look at me there.

I would like.

And really insightful to have a little listen into the cool down

room there. And you can see what it means for the team as well. Down at

who celebrate Marta Garcia's champion drive.

in front of abby pulling who had a brilliant result as well and was keeping

pressure up on uh garcia all the way through jess hawkins joins in with the

celebrations uh after martin test driver just uh became the most recent female

driver to drive a formula one car they're fantastic to see her down here

with alex powell and we'll get the podium ceremonies underway and uh

decided that a young a young man called george russell can give out the

trophies.

Lena Buller steps out onto the third step of the podium.

The Swiss racer backed by the Sauber F1 team.

And another F1 affiliate as well. Abby Pulling takes to the second step on the

podium. She's backed by Alpine.

And Marta Garcia, well, not officially with the Formula One team. I wonder how

quickly that will change. Your race one winner, Marta Garcia, heads out onto the

podium, celebrates with second and third as she becomes champion.

The Spanish national anthem then raining out for Marta Garcia, who takes the

winner's trophy from Mercedes F1 driver George Russell.

Jess Hawkins with Alice Powell watching on. Abby Pulling takes second place and

equals her best results of the season so far. And Lena Buller.

Back on the podium once again. She's appeared on the podium at least once in

every single race so far this year.

And the celebrations can now break out. They don't want to get the race suits

too wet. We've got another race later on today.

I hope they've got a spare test.

But you can see the smiles on all three faces. And despite Brula losing out on

the title, it was always a bit of an outside chance.

that you could tell just how well they get on and how much they all enjoyed

that. And what an opportunity F1 Academy is giving to this

young female racing talent, on track but off of it as well, celebrating

and trying to increase roles and support in performance, engineering, managerial

roles, up and down the motorsport ladder.

It's maybe the final round, but S1 Academy is only just getting started.

And we really only just got started for this weekend as well, because that's

race one done. We've got two more to go.

The second race will happen a little later on today, but this is how race one

finishes. Marta Garcia, with the win, clinches the title in front of Abby

Pulling and Leina Buller getting onto the podium. Marti did hold on to fourth

the end, just in front of Bustamante. Edgar, looking pacy, but didn't quite

enough at the end in sixth, in front of Handa Alkabasi.

We'll start reverse grid pole.

Chloe Chong, Amna Al -Khabassi and Lola Lovenfoss steals the final point in

tenth. Carrie Schreiner and Megan Jilkes just missing out. And only 12 drivers

finishing after that incident with Amelie de Hoos. Chloe Grant and Maite

in turn one.

Well, blue skies.

Well, congratulations to Marta Garcia.

She did it in style, didn't she? She didn't make us wait.

She didn't make us self -wait. She took pole position.

And she led from light to flag. And yes, of course, there was some pressure from

Abby pulling right at the start. And then after the safety car period, she

pushed towards the end, didn't she? But Marta showing the class that she has as

a driver, the experience as well to pick up the seventh win.

of her campaign, and that was enough to get the job done, and the inaugural F1

Academy title is hers.

Jamie was commentating on it, Naomi was watching it alongside me, and Naomi,

let's just start with that. A great achievement, and done comfortably in the

by her.

Well, it wasn't that comfortable. She could have waited until the third race

the weekend. So now she can take the next two races coming, one later today,

tomorrow, slightly more easily.

The pressure that she had from Abby pulling that whole race, I think that

the most impressive thing for me. She obviously had a great start. She led

start to finish. But to not really make any big mistakes under that much

pressure from the beginning of the race to the end, hats off. She deserves this

win today. Fantastic advert. If we're looking for it, we've got it. We've got

some great racing between the top two there and in behind as well.

The whole way through.

The racing was really good. I think that's one of the things that...

This track promotes, but these cars and these championships does as well. It's

super close. It's a spec series. We obviously have different teams, but it

the racing close and the battles very good all the way through the field. In

opinion, Martha did a great job of calculating the risks there. She was

aggressive enough to hold a position, but not so aggressive to put herself in

position to be taken out.

That's the impressive thing for me, to take it to the title.

Utilising her experience.

As we said, 23 years of age. What are the more experienced drivers on the

Absolutely. She participated in... all three years of w series as well so she

had has experienced an even faster bigger cars than these but you could see

today that that just paid off for her uh again you know the class act of not

breaking under that pressure that takes experience that takes knowing how to

deal with those moments and also not you know utilizing too much of her energy

focusing on her mirrors keeping her eyes forward um yeah she did a fantastic job

great to see support as well from lewis hamilton down there we saw alice powell

and george russell getting involved that's what suzy was saying yesterday i

thought that was quite funny you know suzy saying it's all Always Lewis is

here for you. And George getting in on the act up there and presenting the

prize. Well done to you. It is, but George is genuinely a supporter of it as

well. And I think a lot of the F1 drivers are and F1 teams are as well. So

fantastic to have that. I think it really gives it credibility and shows

direction they're aiming to go in with all the F1 teams coming in for next year

as well.

Absolutely. Let's bring in the champion.

And we can call it that now.

How are you?

Marta, Marta, many, many congratulations.

You've just had an interview with Naomi.

It took a while to think in this, but we're just saying you didn't make

or us wait for that one. Did it from pole position?

Yeah, of course. It was a tough race, actually. Abby kept it quite hard on the

back. But, yeah, we had a safety guard for a few laps, I think, in the half of

the race.

But after that, I just tried to keep my pace a bit and defend from Mavi in the

last lap.

And finally did it. I won. I won the championship.

Well, you've had a fantastic season so far. That's your seventh win of the

series. How are you feeling? I mean, the emotions must be high to be champion

today. Yeah, I mean, I was at first when I crossed the line, I was like, OK. And

then I was like, OK, I just won the championship. You know, I was quite

emotional. Like I was a bit crying in the car. You saw me.

But yeah, I mean, it's what it is like at the end. the day there's a lot of

work behind and just being able like you know to win a championship at the end

feels great.

First of all, huge congratulations.

I know how hard you worked and it's amazing that you finally got the

achievement. But what's the plan for the next two races? You've done it early,

you've got it wrapped up. So next two races, what are you thinking?

Thank you, Jamie.

Well, actually, I don't really know yet. I think we will know something probably

these next days.

But I think Eiffel Academy has something for me, some kind of opportunity to

race probably in another category, you know, like higher category, like Formula

Regional or Formula 3.

So let's see. Let's see what happens.

Marta, once we've got it, let's get you to talk us through the start, because

Jamie was saying you were aggressive, but only aggressive enough in that you

managed to keep him behind, but not risk too much. How was it from inside the

cockpit? I mean, I was obviously, I think I should have tried to brake even

later. I think I braked a bit too early, because then if I would have braked

later, I could have gone even on the wide side.

But yeah, I think I kept it there. Obviously, we were really close in here.

until the first test.

But, yeah, I defended well. So, yeah, that was it.

But as you said, we then have the extended safety car period. And towards

end, she was, I mean...

Right at the end, you were having to defend hard too.

She was there or thereabouts for the whole of the race.

Yeah, she was tough. She was there.

Honestly, before the 50 car, I thought I would get a gap.

But I think after the tires got a bit of grain and things, so I struggled a bit

with that.

And then apparently she got it better. So, yeah, it was actually quite hard on

the last lap as well because I was like, OK, I need to defend now.

But, yeah.

She was a tough racer this time.

It took quite some time for the safety car incident to, you know, be cleaned up

and for the safety car to be called in. What were you thinking during that time?

Were you happy that the safety car was out there so that you could maintain

position? I mean, I was like, obviously when you start P1 after the restart, you

always have like an advantage because you're the one who gets the rhythm.

But yeah, there was a lot.

Quite some laps. I was just scared of the tyres, you know, like if they get so

much grain or things like this. And I think that's actually what happened

because I felt it a bit more difficult in terms of driving.

Marta, just a final one. You said we're going to know more about your future in

the next few days.

Just if you could underscore how big a moment this is in your racing career. Is

this the biggest moment of your life so far on that front? Yeah, that's for

sure. Obviously, Jamie knows. I've been racing with her in W Series.

in some of the seasons.

But yeah, worked a lot this year, honestly, with Prema, with the team.

And this is basically my highlight of my career, winning the F1 Academy

Championship.

And it's just amazing.

Tell us what it's like, though, to drive in front of the huge crowds here as

well, and now a live TV audience. I know you've done it before in W Series, but

does it change your attitude slightly when it is live? And that's going to be

the case next season, albeit that you'll have moved on.

I mean, of course, it gives you more, whether it gives you more motivation or

whether it gives you more stress.

Of course, like more attention at the end of the day, you have a lot of people

watching you.

There's the crowd. There is obviously all the F1 teams.

So for me, obviously, I'm used to it when I race in the other championships.

But it's always a bit of a plus in terms of tension, you know.

But it's also good that the F1 teams are here. And also there's a lot of

visibility.

We're being broadcasted. So it's great. Marta, many, many congratulations.

Can't celebrate too hard yet because you've still got two races to go. But

sure Sunday night will be an enjoyable one. Well done. Thank you. Really

appreciate your time. Okay, let's hear from the managing director of the F1

Academy, Susie Wolfe. It's talking to Ted.

Susie, we've still got a couple of races left in the weekend, but the F1 Academy

has its first champion and a deserved one.

A very deserved one. She drove a great race but actually over the season she's

just been very impressive. She's obviously had more experience than the

drivers but she's capitalised this and I'm really excited to see where she goes

from here because we're going to be putting our full support behind her to

sure that she carries on and progresses up the ladder.

And Abby gave her a good race. You think maybe she had an opportunity at the

start, but Marta was clearly not in any kind of conservative driving mode. She

wants to win that race today. She was defending hard initially, but Abby has

so much potential and hasn't always shown it this season. So I was so happy

see her up on the podium and fighting for the win because I think that's what

she's got inside her and she just needs to unlock it. So great to see her finish

the season on such a high with a podium.

And great support from everybody else in the F1 paddock as well.

Well, it's pretty early, but we've got quite some people out here. And I'm even

more excited for race two because it's just before the sprint race. But very

thankful for all the support from this paddock because we can't do it alone.

to get the support of everyone here, it's fantastic.

Thanks, Susie.

Yeah, top eight are reversed for race two, which gets underway a little bit

later on. It means that Brit Chloe Chong will be on pole position for that.

Let's go to the sky pad. Anthony is there for a bit of a deeper dive into

of the key moments of that race.

Yeah, thanks, Simon. So, yeah, first of all, just looking at the start here. And

it was a good getaway by the front row as Garcia heads up towards turn one.

she was just saying, tries to squeeze pulling there on the inside. And good

respect by the two of them in turn one. Give each other enough space.

But, yeah, Garcia just getting on power well enough to get out still in the

front. We saw some other action as well further back. We've got...

Let's highlight the car here. We've got Bulla in car seven.

And she got a bit of a bad getaway, but still managed to hang on to the position

that she was fighting with the car 16 behind her. So, yeah, I'll just wind

it back, actually, because you get to see.

Bustamante in 16. As she gets away, look, it's neck and neck with Buller up

towards turn one, but Buller able to go around the middle of the circuit and

actually hang on to that position. So, yeah, great stuff. And as they headed

down towards the turn two, pulling really fast to mount the challenge

And this is the bit I really liked.

Really close fought, neck and neck action.

And, yeah, everyone getting stuck in as well behind.

You've got Edgar in car 11, the black and...

yellow Carlin car there. Now, I expected a little bit more from her potentially

today, from her speed yesterday in qualifying, getting that pole position

tomorrow's race, of course.

But in fifth place starting, she started to fall back later on in the race. So

that's a bit of a surprise for me. And for people wondering if Garcia actually

jumped the start, I've got it here. So the red lights are on. Just going to get

it to the point where they turn off. There we go. And wind it back from

and then go a few frames back. Now what I'm going to look at is just the

reference of the car to this white line in front.

Jog it on a couple of frames, and you can see there is a little bit of

before the red lights go out, but it's just close enough that I think she's

going to get away with that one.

So other teams might be looking at that, but I think Jamie Chadwick, who was

commenting on the time, spotted it correctly that there was a little bit of

creep there.

Later on, we had the crash, obviously.

Three into one. Doesn't really go. You had, yeah, with Caceres down the

inside in car three. I think just squeeze the little bit there, if I'm

But it's a case of those three into that corner.

It was never going to really work out. And there was contact between the two

cars. And then poor old Dehost on the outside, just an innocent victim there,

felt. I put that down to a racing incident.

Like I say, I've seen two cars go around that corner before, but not three. And

I'm not surprised that that really didn't work out. But yeah, unfortunate

them.

And then we had a good move, actually, from Buller with Martia

down the inside and so on. A really nice, clean move.

A little bit of instability on the rear there from Martia. And yeah, running way

off the circuit. We saw this consistently from her, from Martia,

race. And we've got another example of that, actually, at the end, when she was

under, well, she was trying to actually go for the move against Edgar, who had a

mistake in the turn 11.

So actually, Edgar here in car 11 is defending her position.

But Martia tries to go around the outside and actually gets the move done

going off the circuit there.

I'm really not a fan of this. She holds on to that position then into turn 13

and doesn't give the place back. So I think they've got to be looking at that.

a little bit more potentially for the next races coming up and all these

have to be learned for for these young uh drivers here in this category that's

what this category is all about but um yeah we can now go to another one of

those young drivers put on a real stellar performance it's uh pulling and

with ted well abby i don't know what to say congratulations obviously it's a p2

you gave it a really good really good go there where do you think your best

chance was maybe at the start Yeah, maybe the start or the last lap I was

close going into Turn 12.

But, you know, it is what it is. And, yeah, considering we were P8 in practice

earlier this weekend, I think P2, you know, being there again, I'd be like so

happy to be P2. So, yeah, I seem to be best at coming P2. That's all I've done

this year.

No, but it was a really good drive, wasn't it?

What was your game plan with the engineers and with Alice ahead of the

Yeah, we had spoken from the start and we knew that as long as we had done some

practice starts, we knew that I was on top of my game in that department.

Yeah, we knew the best hope was to start, but here's what it is. We've got

long side, but not quite enough.

So, yeah, hopefully in the next one we'll be able to make that extra bit.

what are your thoughts for the last two races of the season?

Yeah, so I'm starting... I don't actually know what I'm starting in the

one. I know it's a reverse good race, but I'm starting P5.

Or P, I don't know. I don't know, P7, I think, actually. So, yeah, I think I'm

all right overtaking and that aggression. So hopefully I can make some

We'll look forward to it. Well done today.

Thank you very much.

That's a moment she'll remember for a while. It was good to see Lewis coming

to support, as we said, and Alice Powell, who used to be part of the W

So, yeah, good support from the paddock, as we've talked about. What about her

as a driver? I know you two have competed against her.

I think one thing about Abby is she's quite young, so coming into this,

obviously she had W Series experience, but she was one of the younger drivers

W Series, so she's only going from strength to strength. I think races like

today, Susie mentioned it as well, started to really show her potential,

which... Although it hasn't been reflected on maybe result sheets, I feel

she definitely deserves a win at some point this year. And she's capable of a

lot more than that's been shown this year. Yeah, you can sense the

that she's not got a win. We know that eight other drivers have. It's not been

the most straightforward season for her. I think there's been a couple of times

where they had technical infringements and, you know, she didn't get the

that she deserved.

But today I'm a little bit disappointed in her because I think she was right on

Marta Garcia's tail throughout the race. And there was a couple of opportunities

there where I think she could have, you know.

pulled something out of the bag. I think she possibly left a win on the table

today. Okay, well, it didn't quite happen for her. It didn't quite happen

for the nearest driver for the championship, which is the Swiss driver,

Bula. This is what she had to say, talking to Ted.

Well, Lena, you were the driver making some great moves out there today.

Yeah, yeah. I made a bad start, and after we have safety car, and yeah, for

I need to recover some position because we have the pace, and I did it after.

To recover from Abi and Marta, they were a bit far to me, so it was quite

difficult, but I did a good race. We have good taste.

Marta's wrapped up the championship, obviously, from you.

Would it have taken something unusual for you to be able to overturn that,

whatever it was, 48 -point lead this weekend?

Yeah, I mean, I will do my best.

try to finish P2 in the championship.

It's my goal for today.

Okay. And what was it like out there with this circuit and these cars? And it

looked like everybody enjoyed it.

Yeah, the track is really amazing.

It's a really nice track. Also, it's a bit physically in sector one, but

track. It's really nice. Well, it's great to watch you fighting out there,

overtaking. Thanks very much. Thank you.

Yeah, two more races still to come.

Correction, the second pole position, Handa Al -Khabib.

And then we've got Jessica Edgar in the third race on Sunday, the British

driver, young British driver, on pole for that. So, look, let's just wrap it

from here. As we said, good job done from Marta. I suppose one of the

disappointments is that she's not going to be here next year when it's going to

be live for all of their races.

I don't know. I think that's a double -edged sword, I guess. It's a

disappointment, but it's also a great thing. I think, as Susie said, she's got

big opportunity now, and as the first winner especially, I think she's going

get a lot of support and help in her next steps, which...

isn't easy the next step is going to be the hard bit you know i know i've come

from w series stepping out of that and that's going to be the hard bit and she

needs the support of the team she's been with premise she needs the support of

the academies and those around her to really help her with that it's about

on moving up isn't it that that's the thing absolutely but we've had some

exciting racing today we've got two more races coming still a lot to look

forward to and you know even though martha garcia has won the championship

al -kibaisi starting on pole position and the battle for second place in the

championship is still very much open obviously lena bruda extending you know

lead to hamda for third place for second place there. But 10 points are on the

table for that win later today. So let's see what happens. We shall see. Yeah,

it's, I suppose, the equivalent of the sprint. A couple more points, though,

that, because it is the sprint day in Formula 1. Big thanks to Naomi. Big

to Jamie for joining me for that one. As we said, two more races still to come.

Tonight from 9 .15, that second one. And on Sunday with Jessica Edgar on pole

position from 3 .25, as far as we're concerned today. All about the sprint in

the F1.

The sprint...

out from sixth sprint from 10 15 and on sunday it is a 6 30 on air for a

race start at 8 p .m well done then to marta garcia she was on pole position

held off the challenge of abby pulling and she's the inaugural f1 academy

from us all here bye for now