Original subtitles

From pole position a little earlier, Marta Garcia secured her position as

champion in the inaugural F1 Academy Series. She led from pole to flag, and

was a wonderful performance. She needed only 16 points going into that race over

the course of the three races.

And now we find ourselves just about ready for the second of those races.

Reversing the top eight from the opening qualifying yesterday, we are all set

here in Austin.

We are indeed, and you join us just as the cars make their way out of the pit

lane to get onto the grid. I'm delighted to say I am joined by Jamie Chadwick

and Naomi Schiff for this second race of three this weekend.

Let's just, if we could, comment on the inaugural champion. She did a fantastic

job. She absolutely did. I mean, Marta Garcia is, although she's only 23 years

old, she's quite an experienced driver. And this season so far, she's won seven

races, including the one this morning. So just a great run from her. And

honestly, I think it was a championship win.

Well, she was put under some pressure, wasn't she, Jamie? We saw that going up

the hill into turn one by Abby pulling and then towards the end as well. So she

was made to work for it. She was, but it really was a championship drive. I

think she knew the risks she needed to take. She knew what she needed to do,

ideally stay out front. She didn't need to win that race, but she gave

everything to do that. And I think that's what makes her a worthy champion

so deserving of it.

As we stand out here, Naomi, on the grid, that was early on this morning

what? Five, six hours later now, you can see the grandstands are full.

This is going to be the biggest crowd that any of them, I should imagine, will

have raced in front of.

Absolutely. And it's just great timing, you know, for everyone to be able to

give them the slot just before the sprint race.

Everyone's taking their seats for the sprint later. And they also, at the same

time now, get to support these young ladies. And it's something that's so

important for women's sports and for people to watch.

And for sure, it's going to put a bit of pressure on their shoulders. But I

think what's going to give them even more pressure is the fact that they've

all these F1 teams watching them. But it's great for them. Can we just have a

quick word? Word on the success we think of this weekend and how we move into

next year. Obviously, Marta's not going to be there. They'll announce on

Tuesday, I think, where she may be racing next time out, having won it. But

been a great success. There's no doubt about it. And we've seen the likes of

Lewis and George getting behind it.

Absolutely. And I think this weekend is the proof that, you know, it's going to

have success going into next year. It's fantastic that it's got people have the

appetite that they have for it. I think just the reception, even here, you look

at the crowds coming up.

I know they're here for the sprint race as well, but they don't have to be out

watching F1 Academy, and they are. So I think seeing the support of the F1

drivers and giving it that credibility, obviously Susie behind it as well, gives

it a lot of credibility.

And, yeah, it's just great to see. Okay.

Let's hear from the champion, because Naomi spoke to her after that one.

Marta 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,

with my team Prema. A lot of the hard work we've been doing through the season

is 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.

Huge congratulations once again. Well done.

Thank you.

Let's just reiterate then the state of the championship. There we go.

Confirmed with that race win, Marta Garcia, congratulations to 23 years of

and has clinched the title. Hamda Al -Ghubaisi is on pole position for the

second race.

In the teams, though, it was really, really impressive, though, from the

Prima drivers.

They were behind MP Motorsport going into that. They are now 11 points ahead,

and that's because they had three drivers inside the top eight. So they've

over there. Let's go to the skypad there to analyze some of the best moments

from that opening race.

Yeah, thanks, Simon. So, yeah, let's take a look. Just a recap of what

in race one. It was a great getaway, as we mentioned already, by the champion,

Garcia, as they headed up the hill towards turn one. And pulling down the

inside, the pink car there, number 10, makes a good move. But Garcia's covered

it off by taking the perfect line around the outside there. Some drivers, Buller

in car number seven, running wide.

But pulling doesn't give up here. This is what I really liked. A really good,

close fight in between this flat -out left -hander of turn three.

And you can see how precise they had to be with this kerb, look, on the inside.

You've got to avoid that. That's a suspension breaker, that one, if you go

in these cars, these F4 cars, over a kerb like that. And, you know, they've

given each other just enough room here.

Marti, car number one, tries to get involved as well.

But, yeah, Garcia had that covered at the start, like I say.

And then we had a clash unfortunately later on in the race. He had a three

fight going on in towards turn one. And as we've seen so many times before on

this circuit, it's a wide entry into turn one and three into two, I'd say,

because you can get two cars around there.

From races I've been in before and experienced in commentary, you can get

cars going side by side. Unfortunately, it creates a pinch zone if it's three

into one or two, like it was in this situation.

And unfortunately, these drivers are out of the race at that point. But the race

carried on and we saw some... Great defensive driving and Marty again on the

outside going for a move here. Unfortunately, the move was off track,

seem to allow it in this category of racing. They're not quite as strict on

track limits there. So it makes the move, albeit off the track. But yeah,

great tussles up and down the field the whole way through. So we're definitely

expecting more of the same.

OK, let's have a little stroll down the grid, because there we go. That is the

pole sitter, Handa Alkabasi. Let's talk about these cars, if we could, a little

bit. I mean, you compare them to the Formula 1 cars, and these are F4 cars,

ostensibly, aren't they? They are. They are cases F4 cars. OK.

But there's a lot of room for overtaking. You can see that. It's a

wide track. We know that going up, it widens at the top there. So great

overtaking opportunities there at the top.

Definitely.

Martha said already after race one she felt like she could have braked later,

and I'm sure a lot of these girls are a bit more tentative in race one, so I'd

imagine they're going to go for it. You can just see how wide it is. It really

lends itself to, yeah, show your nose up there.

Four Brits on the grid. Here's one of them. Chloe Chong. Well, what have you

thought of the way the Brits have performed this year?

Well, look, I think Abby Pulling was one of the star drivers coming into the

season that I kind of had really high expectations for. You know, when she

into W Series, young driver, she was even a reserve driver initially, came

hit the ground running, and then the full season she did there was just

fantastic. So she's not had...

a true show of what she's capable of in F1 Academy, although this morning she

put a lot of pressure on Martha to almost steal a win from her, but she's

had a win this season so far, so maybe this weekend there's an opportunity. A

little wave there from Bianca Bustamante, who's been confirmed as the

driver for next year. That's huge for her, isn't it? She'll get a lot of

support. It is, and first driver confirmed for next year, so that's great

her. I think it's going to give her confidence this weekend.

You know, she's got the support of one of the biggest Formula 1 teams out

so that's great for her. Stop here, because I want to talk about this lady,

Jessica Edgar. because she had a terrific drive, a really, really good

each year in the second qualifying session.

She absolutely did. I was just saying to Jamie before we were on air that she's

got a real chance to win this race because the drivers ahead of her

qualifying obviously weren't quite as quick.

She's had the pace, but she didn't have a fantastic race this morning. So I

don't know if she's got to work on her confidence in the racing rather than,

know, just qualifying laps. But she's got potential in this race to make some

moves forward. I mean, she stole the pole position, no doubt about it, of the

championship winner. She didn't give up, did she? She didn't give up, no. She

didn't, but she needs to go. Good race now because she didn't have a great race

this morning and you want to go into pole position tomorrow having all the

confidence. So she needs to have a good race now, sleep well tonight and

tomorrow she can come back on the front row. Back in fifth, Lena Bula. She was

the nearest challenger, wasn't she, for a long period of time to Marta. She took

it in her stride. She'll be back next year for more.

She did. And also, you know, something we're forgetting to mention is although

Marta clinched the title this morning, Lena Bula and Hamza Al -Khabaiti,

on pole position, is still in a battle with Lena Bula. of course, second in the

championship. Can we have a quick word here with Alice Powell? Because I know

she's been advising Abby Pulling. It was a great effort earlier, wasn't it?

It was a fantastic drive, though. Yeah, really, really good. This will be a good

one because reverse grid races, Abby likes a bit of overtaking. So hopefully

we'll move on forward.

Abby, fantastic effort earlier.

What are you hoping for? What's possible, do you think, from back here

Yeah, I think the main thing is just to overtake people.

Yeah, I've got an idea of where I want to go in Turn 1, but, you know, it can

all change, so we'll see.

Tell you what, you get some access here, don't you? Fantastic. Let's move it

over, and I wonder if we can do the same here with Marta Garcia, because here

she is. This is the championship winner.

I wonder if we can just have a quick word.

Marta, are we OK to have a quick word?

I don't know if you can say it, but the championship secures. Does it just go

for broke today?

Right now?

Right now?

Right now, just want to have fun.

Just want to do some overtaking and some action.

Good luck. Best of luck. There we go. Fantastic. Right up close and personal.

But there we go. That's the championship winner. She's got it all to do from

eighth. But if anyone can do it, she can.

Let's hand over to our commentators.

Race day continues here in Austin, Texas for F1 Academy.

Welcome back to live coverage. It's the final round of the year. We're about to

look forward to race two of three this weekend.

But we have already crowned our inaugural driver's champion in the form

Garcia. But the driver's championship may be done and dusted. The team's

championship is still up for grabs. But another race awaits.

eight laps around this circuit of the americas the driver's favorite but it's

technical and challenging to hook up all 20 corners but one race down all 15

drivers head into this race with even more knowledge gained on how to get the

best out of this Circuit. My name is Harry Benjamin. I'll be guiding you

all of the action and look at that.

Packed out grandstands, packed out grass.

So brilliant to see the fans coming in across the weekend.

440 ,000 people expected here in Austin across the weekend and about to enjoy

for the first time in F1 Academy season supporting Formula One.

This is Handa Al -Khobassi. She starts on pole. This grid was set by reversing

the qualifying results from qualifying one yesterday.

So the top eight were reversed, and that meant Handa Alkabasi got reverse grid

pole. Chloe Chong will start alongside her. We'll run you through the grid

shortly. But it's lovely weather in Austin. 38 .8 degrees track temperature,

.6. degrees and the sun is shining. There's a couple of clouds in the air

ahead of race two, this is how the grid looks. Starting at the back, 15th place

for Maita Catheris off the grid. She was involved in a bit of a Turn 1 incident.

Then comes Carrie Schreiner in 14th. Megan Jilkes from 13th place.

And the Alcavesi is 12th behind. Emily de Hoos who was another car involved in

the Turn 1 incident from race one earlier.

Lola Lovenfoss starts 10th behind Chloe Grant in 9th. Then comes Marta Garcia in

8th. Our race one winner. and your 2023 F1 Academy champion.

Abby Pulling was hounding her hard for second place in race one. She starts

ahead for qualifying today.

Marty goes from sixth behind Lena Buller. In fourth is Jess Edgar behind

Bustamante, who starts third, a recent addition to the McLaren F1 Academy

program. Chloe Chong, youngest on the grid, starts in second behind her first

reverse grid pole of the year, Hamda Al -Khwabesi.

So that is how your 15 drivers line up.

Hamda Al -Khobaisi will have the best view in the house. And before we get

for the formation laps, eight laps expected, around about 20 minutes of

or so.

And it's a long, steep run up to turn one for our drivers. The incline, huge,

over a hundred foot incline.

In fact, it's almost like 30 F1 cars stacked up on top of each other. But the

umbrellas are starting to be put away to not deter from the rain, but to deter

from the sun that is bringing even more heat down onto our drivers in the

cockpit. Let's hear from Bianca.

You have the pace, naturally.

Just do what you know how to do. It's enough.

And never back down, never what?

Never give up!

Never back down, never what?

Never give up!

Bianca Bustamante, ready to go then, the 18 -year -old from the Philippines, who

currently is down in around about seventh in the Drivers' Championship

couple of wins and a couple of podiums. to her name so far. She'll be looking to

get a couple more positions in this race to try and take the win. But less

points are up for grabs in this race. It's a shorter race because it's set by

reversing the qualifying result for race one.

It's ten points for the win, eight points for second, six points for third,

the way down to one point for eighth place.

Then the fastest lap also gets you a point as long as you finish within the

ten.

being cleared then and we should about to be underway for our formation lap

it's a 240 meter run down from pole to turn one then an over 100 meter

incline 100 feet incline i should say up to turn one the blind left -hander

which then brings you all the way downhill through turn two designed much

interlagos's senna s's before you then hurtle towards the rollercoaster ride of

the 3, 4, 5 and 6 inspired by the Silverstones, Maggots and Beckett

section. And while they start to get temperatures up to speed in their tyres,

can hear from our top three on the grid, Bianca Bustamante, Chloe Chong and

Hanna Al -Khodeysi.

We had a pace in P1, actually, or P1, P2.

I set the third fastest lap time, but unfortunately, just a bad millimetre. We

had a track limit, and my fastest lap time was deleted.

So I was brought down to P6 and P3 for reverse grid.

So, yeah, I was pretty disappointed by that.

But in the end, I think the pace was there.

Something felt different about this qualifying, a lot more calm.

Felt like I've matured a lot this year.

And I just put it all together, I think.

Just a lot of hard work, effort. I really like this track and the whole

been great in just supporting me and guiding me through those tough times as

well this year because it's definitely not been a smooth road.

Up front, it's really, really close, so just a few tenths would have bumped me

up a lot. But, yeah, I struggled a bit with a lot of oversteer, and I had a bit

of traffic in the first quality. But, you know, I'm really happy with the

results anyways. We'll start pole for race two. It's good to start pole here

this track. So, yeah, we'll push.

And there is your top three on the starting grid. Hamda Al -Khobaisi then

Motorsport will have the best view in the house from Paul. Chloe Chong

her and Bianca Bustamante from third. A really good day from Chloe Chong there,

actually. Youngest driver on the grid, starting in second, the British racer,

just 16 years old, this being her first.

Full year, stepping up to any kind of single -seater car racing.

So fantastic to see her coming on and developing, as you say. It's been an up

-and -down year for Chloe Chong, but certainly hoping to end it with a high.

terms of the team's championship, well, it flips around in race one. MP

Motorsport came into this round leading the team's standings, but thanks to

Prema's win last time out earlier this morning, they are now back in front.

Prema with 11 points.

over MP Motorsport as Jeff Hawkins watches on as they gear up to the grid.

very pleased to be joined by three -time W Series champion and Indy Next driver

Jamie Chadwick. Jamie, we had an enthralling race one. What are you

for race two?

More action, I think.

Yeah, I mean, I heard Marta say earlier, she felt like she braked a little bit

early. A few of them taking turn one a little bit more tentatively in race one,

being a bit more conservative. So I think now going into race two, it's

be gloves off. And especially now the championship's decided.

There's a lot of drivers still in there trying to fight for their positions. So

I'm sure it's going to be action all the way through.

Absolutely. We can't wait for this one.

Gloves will be off. We had a bit of an incident on the second lap going into

turn one.

Very much a case of three going into one. Not quite working.

So let's see what the first few laps unveils.

Susie Wolfe watching on with the actress, Chloe Grace Moret, who will be

the flag on this race in eight laps time. But for now...

It's all focused on the 15 drivers on the grid who are about to take the start

to race two of three here in Austin for F1 Academy. The back row will be Carrie

Schreiner and Maita Caceres who will peel up at the back. The green flag

On the front row, Chloe Chong.

Alongside her on pole position is Hamda Al -Khrabaisi. It's all eyes to the

lights. And foot to the floor, there's a staller at the back. It's Bianca

Bustamante. Everybody's able to get around her. And there's another car

the back as well that's also stopped.

But it's a good start then from Al -Khrabaisi who hunks that inside line to

defend from Chloe Chong, Jess Edgar in third.

Lena Buller trying to find a way around her in the number seven ART, the Sauber

Colours. Backing the Swiss racer, Bula gets in front of Edgar, who now has

Marti right behind her. But it doesn't go well. Two cars side by side through

this next section. So Bula wins out that one in front of Edgar, then Marti. But

Bianca Bustamante looked like she wasn't able to get off the line right at the

start. But Hamda Al -Khobaisi getting the start she needed and already pulling

little bit of a gap.

Perfect getaway there for Hamda Al -Khobaisi. And now we're seeing Bianca

Butamante and Hamda's sister, Amna Al -Khobaisi, that are stored at the grid

there. So, yeah, good vision from all the drivers there. But Hamda's managed

get her head down as they all squabble behind.

Yeah, good spot, Jamie. Amna Al -Khobaisi was the other car at the back.

have Marta Garcia, our champion, nearly finding...

The wrong way round coming on to the main straight.

Battling with Nerea Marti in front of her. And Lola Lovenfoss in the number

campus in this battle as well. She's being chased down by Abby Pulling in the

pink road in Carlin. Who looks to the inside down the long back straight.

Late on the break through Abby Pulling. As Chloe Chong has a battle with Lena

Buller. This is Buller getting through on Chong.

Second position in this race. And we're not even through lap one. So it's Handal

Kovaci who leads from pole.

Bula has just got up into second. Chong down to third as Edgar tries to find a

way around.

But Chong coming under a little bit of pressure here from Edgar now. Chong, the

youngest driver on the grid. The least experienced of any of these drivers in

any kind of car racing. Having a great start from P2, but now starting to fall

back slightly.

She needs to get her eyes forward now. She's on a little bit of the back foot.

Lena Buller's found a way past her. They've both went off the track. I think

it'll be okay, both of them, pushing each other wide.

But, yeah, it's all kicking off now. I think Lena Buller needs to get her head

down. She was one of the more aggressive drivers in race one, able to make the

moves. And hands down, she basically had the perfect opening lap. So that's

great for her.

Absolutely. Pulling did get Lovin Foss. So pulling up to seventh, Lovin Foss

down to eighth.

Just in front of that battle, though, is this one once more. It's Chloe Chong in

third, Jess Edgar behind, then Nerea Marti and Marta Garcia, all involved in

this battle. Right now, though, it's Edgar who is in the prime position to

and find a way through on Chong.

But after a little bit of a wobble and just a slight bit of touchiness on the

front end of that frame up for Chong, Edgar just waiting to pounce and waiting

to try and...

forced Chong into a mistake, but they all know, Jamie, that this is a much

shorter race than what we got in race one. There are less points up for grabs,

but there's less time to make a move stick.

It is, but it's also worth noting it is a reverse grid race, so effectively the

cars are out of position. The pace advantage is with the cars from eight

backwards, so eight forwards, sorry. So the likes of Chloe Chong is a little bit

at a disadvantage here pace -wise. She's going to do her best to hold on, but

yeah, she's already watched her mirrors quite a lot, and Lena Bullard's got to

wait.

What a great experience, though, that the reverse grid race provides for those

that aren't normally up the front in the main races to be trying to understand

the race craft there. And the lighting on the wall for Chloe Chong in the end

Jeff Edgar breathes his heart on the main straight. And already as they head

into the braking zone, Edgar makes the move stick and gets up into third.

Chong down to fourth. Nerea Marti will be next up to try and find a way

Garcia is in sixth, just in front of pulling.

And, of course, those two were T1 and T2 in race one. So it will be really

fascinating to see how well they can carve through the field.

Exactly. Especially for Martha. The championship's done, so the gloves are

She can enjoy this. She said on the grid she wanted to have fun. Exactly. She

wanted to have fun, and it looks like she's having fun. She's got happy

as in race one, keeping her honest.

Yeah, both of them are going to be getting their heads down to try and get

through the pack as quick as they can in the D -Lab race.

These two going toe -to -toe.

Norea Marti having a little look on the inside of Chong, coming into the final

corner. She's not far enough for long.

No DRS or anything of that kind in these F1 Academy cars as we start lap three

of eight. Chong leads this gaggle in fourth, then Marti, then Garcia, then

pulling, coming to the inside line, though Marti having a look down the

of Chong that can't make the move done and you can see there Marta Garcia

right Jamie she's got a broken front wing I wonder how she's done that she

have just tagged lightly the back of Nerea Marti because I can't see that

driven that with the whole race but maybe she has she is starting to fall

the clutches of Abby Pulling but the pair of them are still keeping both

Chong and Nerea Marti on it yeah you can just see there is a slight tilt isn't

it on the red and white framer so Pulling right on the back of her in the

road in Carling Garcia

in the red and white. Prema, our champion in 2023 with a broken front

wing. Currently occupying sixth place, pulling behind in seventh. Then loving

for Grant and Dehoof, the top ten. But a reminder, only the top eight score

points. But talk us through the start, Jamie.

So his main focus is actually on the two cars at store, so we kind of didn't

really catch what...

the guys were doing at the front, that hand out to Basie, getting a good

there. Not quite as good as Chloe Chong, so she came across, covered it early,

covered her line, managed to keep the lead nicely. And actually, they were all

pretty well behaved behind. As we said, it really does invite itself to have

contact at that turn one. And here's where it does get a little bit spicy,

we see Marta got that damage on lap one, actually. So she's been carrying that

damage all the way through. I think that's one thing to note about this

championship in these cars.

There is downforce on the cars, but it's not quite the level of, you know, what

we see in Formula 1. So they can have damage like this and get away with it a

little bit. And she can still carry good speed and be able to keep, like I said,

with the pace of the guys and girls in front.

Yeah.

F2 frontrunner, Théa Pochette, watching on, also backed by the Zalber F1 team,

much like Leina Böhler, who currently occupies second place in this race.

They're chasing down... And we also saw from those dark replays that Pulling

didn't get a particularly great start either. So she's sort of on the back

trying to regain ground. She did actually start ahead of Garcia.

Garcia getting that front wing damage.

I think it was contact with Jet Edgar, which almost sent her into a bit of a

spin. So Garcia on the back foot. Then comes Pulling in seventh.

Loving for eighth.

Then Grant ninth to host in the top ten.

And here was Pullink getting past Garcia down the inside while trying to have a

go down the inside. But then Garcia forced out wide, carries more momentum,

has the inside line and is able to get back through.

These two love fighting together, don't they, Jamie? They're glued together.

They are. And to be honest, if I was Abby, I'd be one snap position back. I

like Martha just put a foot in it across the white line using track limits

there. So a little bit of a tricky one.

If I was Abby's engineer, I'd be telling her straight away that Martha's got

front wing damage. She's going to move here, down the inside from the rear,

Marcy. Well, more bad news for Martha Garcia. She's been given a black and

orange flag, which essentially means that she needs to come in and change her

front wing and repair the damage. The race controller deemed that could be

dangerous if it were to break even more.

A disaster, really, for Garcia. She had nothing to lose anyway. She's already

got the championship, but now she's being really caught up in this battle,

Chong is still holding on in front at the moment. Chong is in the number 14

and white framer. Then comes Marty. Then comes Garcia with the broken front

wing, pulling, having a go, trying to get side by side as they come into the

tricky left -hander of turn 15, pulling to the inside of Garcia.

Nice move from Abby Pulling.

Fantastic.

Really nicely done. And that's the move that's been brewing for a while now.

From

my

knowledge, I think if you get a black and orange flag...

You've got three laps to respond to it. I might be wrong on that. Someone can

correct me on the rules, but the three laps remaining, I would consider staying

out. But, yeah, obviously, the engineer told her there she's got to respond to

that. She's got front -wing damage. That's a shame.

I mean, she did what she needed to do in race one, but she was showing good pace

there, even with the damage.

No, I think you're absolutely bang on, but I wonder if they stayed out three

laps or we're basically at the end then, aren't we?

Whether a further penalty might have come, but I think they've decided well.

We had to come in at some stage, and with the championship wrapped up for

Garcia, she can come in and continue gaining knowledge with a thick front

Out in front then, 1 .2 second gap on lap 5 of 8 for Hamda Al -Khobaisi in

of Lena Buller. Jess Edgar currently has the final podium spot. Chloe Chong is

doing a sterling job of trying to hold on in front of faster cars behind her. A

little bit of a wide line coming in the tricky sector.

over the blind crest of turn 10 and now to the short downhill braking zone of

turn 11. She'll be under pressure from Nerea Marti and Abbey pulling behind.

Marti having to go defensive and attack at the same time because pulling is

coming for Marti. Marti in the number one Campos, pulling in the number 10.

Roden Carlin and pulling gets the job done. Pulling is on a mission here.

This is nicely done from Chloe Chong. She's backing those two up into each

so they can fight. And those two have a lot more experience than Chloe Chong.

Those two did W Series.

They have had experience in the car. They've raced wheel -to -wheel for many

more years than Chloe Chong has. But she's doing a great job here, hanging

And like I said, getting those two to fight while she can hopefully get a

bit of breathing room, that'll help her.

Yeah. Nerea Marti almost had another look down the inside of pulling behind,

nothing to be done there.

This would be Chong's best result of the season if she could hold on to it. So

far, she's got a couple of sixth -place finishes to her name, but a fourth

-place spot would be fantastic for the young 16 -year -old racer. And Marta

Garcia, then, out of the car, out of this race.

And that is her day done.

And I think she's just describing there what happened and where she picked up

that front wing damage, which we saw on the replay.

So a shame to see Garcia out of this one. But three laps to go then.

Hamdal Kravetsi is at a fairly smooth run of it. The main battle right now is

coming in the form of a fourth position.

Chopp, Pulling, Marty, all involved in this. And actually, as they fight,

they're bringing in Lola Lovinfos in seventh, just behind as they make the

up to turn one.

Yeah, Chloe Chong's really got her mirrors full now once the top three

get away.

So much pressure for her to absorb, isn't it? It is, but it's a great

experience. And she'll look back at races like this, she'll think, oh, I

have done this better, I could have done that better. But it's exactly what she

needs. And she's in a great team with Prima. She's got a great teammate,

obviously, that's won the championship.

So, I mean, she's going to learn so much from this year and hopefully get the

chance to come back next year. And I think everything that she can take from

these races, the experience, it's going to be a great experience.

So Perling Beton to give the position back then.

Not happy with that. She's right onto the back of Chloe Chong, looking to make

move. But she's going to have to succumb, according to the team, to Nerea

behind. I wanted to bring up Bianca Bustamante. Pulling does let Marti

Bianca Bustamante, who stalled on the grid, managed to get back into this

And she has had a brilliant fight back. She's up into eighth. That's a point

-paying position right now. If Bustamante is to hold on to it, she's

overtaking Chloe Grant.

And she's the red and white framer in the background of this shot. Chong. is

red and white framer in the foreground.

Pulling, having let Marty through, has now managed to get back through on the

main straight. Smart driving there from Pulling, able to use the slipstream.

Bustamante further back though, nearly swiping across the front end of Chloe

Grant. That all got a bit tasty.

It did, yeah. I think they handled that quite well. I'd not have further contact

or any more front wing damage in this race.

But yeah, Pulling doing a smart thing there, giving the place back and then

going straight for it. I don't think...

She should have given the position back as her team told us to, but she'll feel

hard done by that.

Like I said, you know, they're pushing each other wide.

It's easy to keep your foot in and gain a position, but then it is tricky around

those track limits. You know, track limits are such a topical thing.

Yes, such a bumpy track.

Sometimes you can see the cars undulating, but of course the cameras

do it justice for how bumpy it can be.

incline there. Well, you can see there that is over a hundred foot incline that

they have to deal with.

Hamda Al -Qubaisi leads then on the penultimate lap ahead of Boula and

Further back in the battle for seventh.

It's Lola Lovinfos on the inside.

Bianca Bustamante takes the wider line, sweeps round the corner, trying to carry

a bit more speed as they head downhill to try and make the move through on

Lovinfos for seven. But she might just have to tuck in behind as they head

through the tight and twisty sector one.

Yeah, Bianca's got the bit between her teeth after that first, or the start

incident that she had. So, yeah, she's flying now. She's definitely got a lot

pace in that promo car, trying to make a move now up to get into seventh.

Yeah, Lovingford had actually a bit of a bad run through that section. The

Bustamante has closed right up on the back, pulling back through on Marty,

right on the back of Chloe Chong, who is still doing her best to hold on to that

fourth spot. But it's the writing on the wall for Chloe Chong, as Pulling moves

to the inside of turn 11, slight lock -up.

Runs a little bit deep. They'll be side to side. It'll be a drag race all the

way down the back straight. And Nerea Marti will be lurking behind in her

Campos. Trying to get a bit of a toe.

But it's Chong on the inside.

Pulling will be on the outside.

Who is going to make this one stick? Chong will have the advantage.

But we know Pulling is so good on the brakes. But she has to watch out for

Marti as well.

Chong on the inside.

Looks like she's able to hold the position.

Lola Lobbenfoss further back. Fighting still with Bustamante.

Chong. Chong not able to hold that position.

Pulling gets through.

Can she keep Marty at bay as they come into the left -hander at 15?

Marty's going to have the advantage.

Through goes Marty and up into fifth spot.

Chong tried her best. And boy, does she make it interesting for us. She did. And

I thought, wow, she's breaks late. And yeah, just a little bit too late there.

And I think I'm...

From her point of view, like I said, just so much experience gained from

think it would be easy to break early there, give the position to someone more

experienced like Abby. But no, she committed to it. She broke late.

Unfortunately, couldn't make it stick. But like I said, she's going to take so

much from this.

Yeah, fantastic work from Chloe Chong making us sweat in this race. But as we

start the final lap then in race two here in Austin, it's Handa Al -Khrabaisi

ahead of Lena Buller. And Handa Al -Khrabaisi has had a pretty quiet race

front. 1 .6 seconds to gap. We haven't really seen our top three now. They've

kind of settled into that position.

I know she's done a great job, though. A little bit of pressure early on in the

race. Lena Buller looked pretty quick. We've got Chloe Grace Moretz waving the

flag. She's a big motorsport fan actually, big into her esports. I did a

with her last year and great to see her here and supporting F1 Academy.

Hamza Al -Kibaisi, really effortless drive from her and very important drive

well for the team's championship.

We've seen Prema really eat into the MP advantage that they had coming into this

weekend. So this is really important for them in the team's championship.

It really is. MP actually lost the lead at the end of race one.

11 points, the gap.

Coming into this race between themselves and Prema, but Hamda Al -Khobaisi doing

her absolute best to try and keep the team's title fight alive and looking

forward to what would be her fourth win of the season with just a few corners

left to go. But there's your top three coming through. Hamda Al -Khobaisi, Bula

and Edgar. Then comes Tully. Bye -bye.

That was really cleverly done, Abi. Well done.

I think she was quite impressed with herself, Jamie.

I think she spent a lot of this race, or this race and yesterday's race, behind

people I think she shouldn't have been behind. So good for her getting the move

done, getting it done on track as well.

So, yeah, that was great from her. But, yeah, the top three, I mean, faultless

drive from Handel to Vesey, but also worth noting Jessica Edgar coming

in third place. She's starting on pole tomorrow, and I did say she needed a

race in this one to have the confidence to go to sleep tonight and knowing she's

got a chance to win tomorrow.

Yeah, that's a great effort from her and the Carlin car. It really will be. But

the best effort of all goes to Hamda Al -Khobaisi, who rounds the final corner

and takes the chequered flag to win race two here in Austin, the F1 Academy.

Hamda Al -Khobaisi takes it in front of Lena Buller, who comes home in second.

Jess Edgar will complete the podium in third. Abby Pulling with a sublime fight

back. Up into fourth.

Marty rounds out the top five.

Chloe Chong holds on to stick. Equals her best results of the season so far.

Bustamante, a fantastic effort to get back from a stalled start on the grid.

into seventh. And Lola Lovenfos rounds out the points -paying positions in

eighth. Well.

Blink and you miss it. I thought that went quite quickly, Jamie.

It did, but plenty of action in there, nonetheless.

So, yeah, fantastic race there from Hamdahl to Basie.

Really respect the way she drove that race. Got her head down from the off.

Managed to make a gap, and here we can hear from her.

OK, Hamdahl, so P1, that's P1.

Good job, good job.

Well deserved, well deserved.

Very happy for you.

Yeah, thank you. That was good, yeah. So happy.

Good job, guys.

Yeah, happy with that drive for Martha Garcia and for Hamda Al -Ghabaisi. Makes

that her fourth win of the season. Leila Bullock, a quiet drive as well, up into

second spot though. So another podium for Bullock.

Most of any this season.

Fantastic work for the Swiss way to bounce back by Salva. It will be her

season, her first and last season in F1 Academy as she's hit the age limit.

So won't be able to return. But what a year for her it's been to be in the

fight right to the very end. And back by Sauber, I'm sure her career will fly

after this. And Jess Edgar as well in third.

Quietly impressive.

And as you say, Jamie, she will start race three tomorrow on Sunday from pole

position.

She'll be very happy with that. And I think she's just got to take the

confidence from today.

She made some really good decisive moves in this race.

She's got the best view tomorrow. She's got a great opportunity.

She didn't get the best start in that race. So, yeah, a little bit of a

start tonight, I think. And, yeah, I'm looking forward to watching her go off

pole position tomorrow.

Great to see so many fans in the grandstands out there to watch the F1

action.

440 ,000 people across the weekend for F1 Academy on the bill for the first

with Formula 1 ahead of seven rounds in 2024 that will all be supporting Formula

1. This is...

Perfect. This is exactly what F1 Academy was all set out to do, wasn't it,

Jamie? And this is only the start.

It really is.

You know, I was talking about we were here in WC in 2021 and how special that

felt. And, you know, the people that were on the grid and the support we had

now just seeing this, it's unbelievable, you know, how far we've come. And all

credit to what F1 Academy have put in place and the infrastructure and

everything that they've done.

for these girls to support them, I think, as you said, it's just the start.

We're seeing Hamda Al -Khobaisi jump out now and just the support we've seen

this weekend and the appetite for it, it's amazing.

Promoting female talent on the track and off of it as well.

But at the end of race two, it's Hamda Al -Khobaisi who gets out of her MP

Motorsport car and heads straight over to her team to celebrate a well -earned

drive that she was also an outside shot.

for the title this weekend.

Couldn't quite make it stick, but she bounces back from that loss with a race

win. There's Lena Buller following up and with another podium, back -to -back

podium so far for Buller. And that goes a long way for somebody like Lena

Buller, backed by Sauber as well.

They'll be watching that, won't they, Jamie?

They will be, but actually it's worth noting that these two are actually very

close for Peter in the championship, I believe. So I think going into tomorrow,

they're both going to be watching each other to make sure they can keep ahead

one another, because I think there's not that many points split in them. But of

course, yeah, Saba back for Lena Bull is hugely valuable. We've seen, obviously,

the F1 announcements rolling in as of late, and I think it's just fantastic

these young, talented female drivers are getting the support.

Absolutely, it is still really tight for second in the Drivers' Championship.

Buller just about edging it at the moment for Hamda Al -Khobaisi, but that

will... 15 points between them at the moment, so that will go down to the

Charlotte Phelps there, one of the lead engineers for MP Motorsport, giving

Hamda a huge hug there.

Lena Buller then coming home in.

second, and Jeff Edgar in third. Abby Pulling managed to get an extra point as

well for setting the fastest lap. She finished in fourth. Just outside the

points, only the top eight score points in race two was Chloe Grant, Emily

Dehoest, Carrie Schreiner in 11th, Maite Caceres, Megan Gilkes, and Amna Al

-Khobayzi did get going as well.

And after her tough start, we lost Martha Garcia with a front wing.

broken coming into the pits and decided to call it a day there but arguably she

did the hard work earlier on today in race one where she became the inaugural

f1 academy champion and they're your top

three and we'll hear from our winner Hamda Alkabasi who's talking to Naomi

Schiff Hamda, a huge congratulations. Another win to add to your long list of

wins. And you did it in front of this fantastic crowd out here in Austin. How

was that?

Yeah, it was really good. I'm really happy. I mean, the pace is there, no

It's just we started off a bit rough, I would say. But, you know, in the end, we

can see that the pace is there. And I was able to lead and pull a gap. So I'm

really happy about it. And, yeah, I look forward to tomorrow.

Well, Lena was putting some pressure on you there the whole race through. She

didn't let go. And you two are fighting for second place in the title.

So how much pressure did that put on you?

Yeah, I saw her coming, but I didn't think she would be there already in the

first lap. So it was a bit of a shock. But when I saw her, I decided to keep

pushing. I got a deja vu moment from Zandvoort where she was also pressuring

there. So, yeah, I was just like, head forward, keep pushing. And, yeah, it

worked out.

Well, there's one more race tomorrow, so you still are in that fight for second

place. What are you going to do to achieve it?

Yeah, we will start P6 a bit far down.

So I hope, you know, we can pull a good fight and try to focus on gaining

positions as much as possible. Anything can happen. So I hope I'm able to get a

podium step tomorrow as well. Well, congratulations and good luck for

Thank you. Thank you.

celebrating her win with a chat with Naomi Schiff. And this was her run

to the line.

And a flawless drive from Handa Alkabasi, the Emirati racer, and the

of the Alkabasi sisters in the grid. Handa, the older, but Handa getting the

win. Just 21 years old.

And straightaway celebrating with her team.

And now we go to the cool -down room. Lena Buller and Jess Edgar already

Caps getting put on.

And no big incidents to report after race two. They were all the top three

race one. We're all having a great look at the turn one incident we saw earlier

on. And just waiting for Hamda to join.

Not too much talking going on.

So not too much to listen into, but a little look at the start.

And both

of them getting a look at what happened to Marta Garcia's front wing.

Hamda Al -Khobaisi.

joins them not very chatty in the cool down rooms i normally like this bit

because it gives me a rest but uh no they're they're gonna keep they're gonna

make me gonna make me work aren't they i can tell you some more information

though because the team championship fight still well and truly on that will

down to the wire four points between prema and MP Motorsports,

thanks to Hamda Al -Khobayi's win with MP Motorsports.

And Chong and Bustamante were sixth and seventh for Prema, so picking up a few

points there, which is why the gap has come down. So that is really a fight

is going down to the wire, as will the battle for P2 as well, about 15 points

between Bula on the left -hand side of your screen and Hamda. Oh, they're

a little chat, aren't they?

Won't bother.

There's Chloe Grace Moret having a chat with Susie Walsh, the F1 Academy

Managing Director and the woman behind this entire set -up.

And speaking a lot this weekend. Brilliant to see some of the Formula 1

coming down to support. We had Lewis Hamilton, George Russell here for Race

Esteban Ocon was here for qualifying as well.

And it is all about...

Getting eyeballs on F1 Academy, and you can see there, we've got a lot here in

Austin, Texas, and we still have one more race to run tomorrow, which will

going from around about 9 .40 local time in the morning. So do join us for that.

But for now, it's time to get the celebration underway on the podium for

two. Jeff Edgar steps out onto the third step of the podium.

The British racer shaking hands with the Swiss racer Lena Buller, backed by the

Sauber F1 Academy, takes the second spot of the podium. But your winner of race

two are the top staff, Hamda Al -Khubaisi.

Hamda Al -Khobaisi then, your race two winner here in Austin for F1 Academy,

receives her trophy from the broadcaster Gail King.

Handing out all the trophies as well. Lena Bullock picks up another bit of

trophy for her cabinet that is expanded massively

this season. And Jess Edgar gets... Another podium, that's her third podium

in the F1 Academy season, and Handa Al -Khobaisi does not want to get covered.

She's still got one more race to run in these overalls.

Lena Buller and Jeff Sedgert happy to have a little bit of a spray, but we're

not getting as much as we got for race one.

A calm, cool, and collected podium celebration.

As the curtain falls on the circuit of the America's F1 Academy action for

Saturday. And what a track to come to as well. That has hosted Formula One since

2012. And played host to other high profile series.

NASCAR, MotoGP, sports cars.

And now playing host to F1 Academy.

Two races done and dusted then for today. And this is how the second race

up. Hamda Al -Khobaisi taking...

Her fourth win of the season in front of Elena Buller and Jess Edgar rounding

out the top three. Abby Pulling with a sublime drive up into fourth and also

the fastest lap to boot. Nerea Murphy rounded out the top five. A good drive

from Chloe Chong. Couldn't quite keep the faster cars behind her, but a lot of

learning done for her. In sixth, Bianca Bustamante fighting back from a stall on

the grid to seventh. And Lola Lommenfors picked up the final point in eighth in

front of Chloe Grant and Emily Dehost.

Schreiner was 11th, Catherine 12th in front of Jilks.

Amna Al -Khobaisi also stalled, and our one retirement was Martha Garcia, but

she still had the championship, so not too much bother for her.

Well, that is it for the F1 Academy action.

Yeah, as Harry's saying there, a third and final race of the season tomorrow

from 25 past three.

And it is Jessica on pole position for that one. But well done to Hamda

Alkabasi, who becomes the second pole to flag winner of the weekend. She held

them all at bay. But again, another fine race and a great advert for the

Academy. Great race. And I think the shorter race and the reverse grid nature

made it exciting. We saw a lot of overtakes, a lot of battles. So it was

fantastic. sprint follows by the way in a few moments time that's from 10 15 and

from tomorrow it is 6 30 on air for eight o 'clock lights out um in the

one we'll come on to the sprint at the moment but yeah let's carry on uh

up on what we were talking about you know This is a lot of eyeballs on them

weekend, particularly now as we stand, what, an hour away from the start of the

sprint. And she handled the pressure really well. She absolutely did. And

honestly, I think it must have been an incredible feeling for her, especially

those last laps out there when she was already sure of the fact that she was

going to clinch that win. To see the people in the crowd there supporting her

that last lap.

Very special for these drivers and really important for women's sports.

And just what MP Motorsport needed because they didn't have a great first

this morning. It is very tight between themselves and Preyman out at the top

the team's trophy, which is going to be decided tomorrow.

Yeah, just a few points, I think. So, yeah, great result for them today. I

tomorrow, the three cars, and they all need to be up there. And I think we saw

little bit of an unfortunate race one for them. It is.

The race win. I mean, we've just heard from you, but congratulations.

I was just saying, I don't know, how did it feel racing in front of this amount

of people here? You know, you've got a live television audience globally.

Did that make you nervous?

Yeah, that was insane. Like, every time I passed by, especially the first

corner, there's a lot of people there. And I almost missed my... breaking point

a few times i was like looking at them yeah it's amazing it's just a really

vibe pushed me even more actually motivated me to to push more so best

your career yeah for sure amazing and it's close between you and lena for

in the championship was that in your mind in that race or are you just

on winning more focusing on winning because uh to be fair i started off the

weekend a bit rough in quali didn't Didn't put my sectors together, didn't

everything together to be up there, but in the end I'm happy I was able to show

that the pace is there and that I can win the race despite Lena being behind.

It's good. Well, Hamza, lots of people tell us that you are a rising talent and

that you've got a lot of potential for the future. You've raced back at home in

Europe as well. But how special is it to be here in front of F1, all these

teams, for the first time and win in front of them as well?

Yeah, it's amazing.

You know, the exposure we're getting here, it's phenomenal.

And I think it's really good that back home, you know, my family and my people

back home can watch me race, especially as an Arab woman. It means a lot to me.

So, yeah, it's really good. You sit down on, luckily, two people stalling on the

grid there. Talk about sibling rivalry between the pair of you. How's that work

at home?

Yeah, normally, you know, we used to argue a lot and fight a lot back in our

karting days, especially when you're in the same category. But, you know, now I

feel like we've matured a lot more, and especially racing in the same team. We

work together, we help each other, and it works best. So when I'm behind and

faster, she lets me go, vice versa.

It's always been like this. since the start of the season, so I think it's a

good atmosphere.

Your poor parents.

And quickly, what have you done to your hand?

Oh, yeah, I blistered it yesterday, so it was cut, and I had to plaster it,

otherwise it would cut even more.

Well done. We'll let you go and enjoy that. Fantastic. Great performance. Well

done, Alejandra. Best of luck for you tomorrow. One of the great drives,

in that race was from Abby Pulling from seventh up to fourth. Let's go to the

sky pad. Ant is there.

Yeah, absolutely right, Simon. So yeah, we're looking at the pink car here,

number 10, Abby Pulling, as you say.

And I really felt like she was the race today. Down the inside here of the

champion, the new champion, Garcia.

Brilliant move into 15.

And then really plucky driving, I feel, with Marty here around the outside.

And yeah, I mean, yes, there'll be F1 fans looking at this and saying, hey,

was off the track, but it seems to be allowed in this category.

And then a mistake here, I must say, into 11 and gets re -passed by Marty,

then is on the attack again immediately after that. And some great wheel -to

-wheel action here with Chloe Chong putting in a real strong defensive drive

front in the prema.

And then, yeah, she retakes that move into 12. And then this move here was

brilliant into turn 11.

That created a bit of a drag race all the way down the straight.

Back towards turn 12, the two of them neck and neck. And it came down to this

braking point, racing here for fourth place.

Came down to this braking point into 12. And you can see that Marty's there

still lurking around in the background as well. And some really clever driving

here from pulling.

She realized that Chong was going to go in pretty deep to protect the position,

crosses the line on the exit.

And just like her engineer said, brilliant, clever driving to swap that

the inside and get the move done. So yeah, like I say.

She was my driver of the day today.

And ours. I think we psyched her up for it on the grid, didn't we? Gave her a

bit of a pep talk and then she pulled out a great drive. Fantastic.

Well, you certainly did. But also, she had the pace. I mean, you saw how she

the pressure on Marta in race one this morning. She's a driver with a lot of

talent and I think she's, you know, really, really eager that before the end

the season comes that she gets a win under her name in the series.

That's what she wanted. She wants a win and she was... I mean, she's going hell

for leather, wasn't she there? No, no, no.

Quarter less on turn. She was, but she's shown she can make the overtakes now.

So I think going into tomorrow, she's going to have a lot of confidence.

OK, we know it's going to be sorted tomorrow. Certainly the teams is

It's a handful of points between Prema and MP Motorsport. Hamda Alkabasi is the

winner of race two following us right now. We'll be back in a couple of

for the sprint. See you then. Bye.