Original subtitles

An inaugural F1 Academy Series victory for Marta Garcia with a pole -to -flag

win in the first race on Saturday. Unfortunately for her, some front -wing

damage in the second, but Hamda Al -Ghabaisi doing exactly the same, and

really tight between MP Motorsport and Prema at the top with one more race

to go.

And that's where we are. Fog has extended a little bit.

upon the track at the Circuit of the Americas final race of the final round

this year's F1 Academy.

Well, thankfully, it looks like the fork is going to burn off and lift slightly

ahead of this third and final race. But what an opening weekend, or what a final

weekend, I should say, we've had. But an opening weekend in terms of life for us

in the F1 Academy, Naomi Schiff and Anthony Davidson.

You're not completely wrong, though. This does feel like, you know, a dawn of

new day for F1 Academy. And the fact that they can be here in front of the F1

crowd, in front of the F1 team, is just spectacular. And I think everybody's

going to be really savoring up this last moment of the season.

Yeah, really great race. haven't we we have yeah i've really enjoyed watching

these girls battle it out on track simon but there's a bigger message here than

just the action on circuit if you're a girl and you're semi -interested even an

iota of passion to get into a go -kart watch these girls be inspired get

yourselves into a go -kart because we want to see one day hopefully a female

formula one again absolutely i mean the last time we saw a woman in formula one

was 1976 so clearly something's got to change and i think that this is a great

you know initiative to as you say, not only give girls an opportunity to get in

cars, but to create identifiable role models for young girls at home so that

their parents see that actually there is a pathway for women in the sports as

well. Well, Marta Garcia made it easier for herself, didn't she, in the opening

race here. It was a fine display. She's been the cream of the crop all year.

She has, you know. She's the most experienced one here, of course, as

having competed in.

Like the W Series in the past. So we expected that kind of performance from

And, yeah, clinching the championship yesterday in race one.

What are her strengths, do you think, as a driver, Naomi?

Well, you know, Martha, first of all, in terms of driving style, Martha's always

been really, really good in under braking.

So I remember a couple of years ago we raced in Norris Ring and she was the

of the best, braking absolutely latest.

So that's one of her driving strengths. But I think as a personality, she's...

Very dedicated.

She's had her low moments, but she knows how to bounce back. She doesn't let

anything get to her too much. And that's proven this season. I mean, she's had

seven wins, but it hasn't always gone her way.

She wasn't the only one that won from pole position yesterday.

Hamda Al -Khabassi, a great effort from her. Yeah, the reverse grid, they

reversed the top eight. And, yeah, so Hamda held on to that pole position,

winning the race in fine style. She'll have a tougher race today, of course.

Starting lower down on the grid from the qualifying session two days before.

But the one I'm interested in, Jess Edgar, starting on pole position today.

was a brilliant fight. She toppled, managed to topple. Yeah, right at the

Right at the end, claiming pole position. She starts on pole today,

might of Garthia. A brilliant last -ditch effort there. But so far, her

pace that we've seen in the first two races...

hasn't been that spectacular.

So can she get her elbows out and keep Garth here behind her? It's going to be

fascinating to watch.

It really is. That's one of the key things today. I mean, she's so young,

yet the display on Friday in qualifying, that second part of qualifying,

outstanding. Yeah, that perseverance. I mean, that was, I think, the one thing

that stood out for me, that she just kept going, and she just kept getting

quicker and quicker as she went, despite the fact that her tyres may have been

going off. Her sector one was quicker than anyone else's, so maybe that's

to work in her face. this morning, get a good start, get a good first sector.

Maybe she can just break a little gap to the others. But as you say, she's a

very young driver.

It's a lot of pressure. I mean, you've got 14 other girls behind you who

desperately want that first place. You've got these big teams, F1 teams

you with the crowds.

I'm hoping for her she's going to be able to keep her cool.

OK, let's just bring it up to you. Still a fair amount to be settled,

particularly in the team's championship. But also for second place, Dana Buller,

who is in second by herself at the moment. Bahamda is just 13 points behind

Abby Pulling had a terrific drive yesterday.

coming through the pack and also trying to chase down Marta Garcia in the first

race. She's the best place of the Brit, and as you can see, Jessica Edgar is on

pole position and also inside that top eight.

But as far as the teams are concerned, Prima it is with a six -point, very

narrow lead between themselves and MP Motorsport, as we have a little stroll

down the grid now.

We can see as we walk over to Jessica's car here, she seems cool and calm and

collected. She has been.

And when she seems to do it, we've been really, you know, we've been peaceful.

Yeah, so... Marta's here, yeah. Marta's here. We're waiting for Jessica Edgar,

who's pulling up alongside here as Nerea. Marti, here comes Jess Edgar here

the car behind you.

You can still put the cameras, don't get run over.

Jess Edgar there. But Marta Garcia has put on a great display. I mean, she's 23

years old, which is still very, very young.

However... You know, she's got a lot of experience compared to some of the

drivers around her. She had a difficult day yesterday, actually.

Got caught up in turn 11, a bit of wing damage. Actually had to retire from the

race, easy for me to say.

So, yeah, a bit of wing damage. So she'll be looking to put things right in

race today. She's won the championship, of course, but she wants to go out by

winning that last race and starting in second place. Let's see if we can have a

quick word with her again. Marta's in the car.

Marta? It was kind of a mixed day for you yesterday, wasn't it? You had a

fantastic effort to win the championship, and then it was a bit of

wasn't it, to the front wing that cost you the second.

What are you hoping for in this third and final race of the year?

Well, of course, yesterday was not the best in the last race, but I think we

it. For now, basically, I'm starting to do as good as I can.

Obviously, my target is to win the race.

It's going to be hard because I don't have new tires.

But we're going to try to get as much points as possible for the team's

championship. Has it sunk in yet, the fact that you won the championship? Did

you have the evening to reflect on it?

I mean, of course, winning the championship, I'm still in cloud nine.

It's an amazing feeling.

But we're racing. We have one last race, the last race of the season. So we'll

try to take the best out of it.

Fantastic. Best of luck today, Marta. Let's go over and have a quick word, if

could, with the MD.

Managing Director of the F1 Academy, Susie Wolfe is over there. I wonder if

can just door stop her, Susie.

We're live.

I was just saying it's been a fantastic weekend, hasn't it, for all concerned

here. It's been some fantastic racing.

I'm very happy for our first weekend with Formula One. We've seen some great

racing. We obviously crowned our inaugural champion.

But really, the support that we've had from this paddock, it's just been

phenomenal. And this is just the beginning. So the future is looking very

bright. We were just saying on the grid that although this is the last race of

the season, it feels like the dawn of a new day for F1 Academy. What are your

hopes for next season? I mean, you've been through a whole season now. What's

next?

The interesting thing is everyone reaching out to me, especially from the

saying, OK, we're going to be there next season. They want to know all the

details, how they can get behind it, what more we're doing aside from just

racing. So I think...

Being finally with Formula One has just brought it alive from within the Formula

One paddock. And obviously, all the teams being involved for next season is

going to take us to the next level. And for that, I'm super excited.

Susie, I tried my best to convince young girls watching this race today to get

into a go -kart. What's your message to young females watching this race today?

But it's possible.

There is a place for you in this sport, whether that's on track or off track.

We're building out lots of opportunities on the off track. Obviously, Formula

One Academy becomes a destination now. If you're a little girl sitting at home,

this could be you on the grid. In how many years? 5, 10? 16 is the entry age

25. And we want to inspire you to know that there is a place for you in this

industry. Thanks, Susie. Really appreciate it. Well done. A great final

we've seen. But a little bit of a moment on the way to the grid, actually. As we

said, the fog just lifted. thing not sure it was anything to do with that

why a few are out of position arriving here and it was abby pulling actually we

think with a spin let's go to ted what can you tell us ted well simon just

reflecting what you're saying about the team's championship prema need chloe

chong And they need Bianca Bustamante to score points today.

So there is Chong. There is Bianca over here. Bianca so disappointed after the

stall yesterday.

She said that the clutch just got too hot on the formation lap when she dumped

the clutch too aggressively. Then that instigated the stall.

Blamed herself for the stall, really. But did get going. Made up seven

in eight laps.

So Bianca has pace in this Prema. And she's going to need to deliver on that

help Prema, they hope, to the team's title today.

So let's see if we can have a quick word with Abby. Was there a little spin

there on the way to the grid?

What happened?

I think that was the most embarrassing thing I've ever done in my career.

Yeah, I know it's really cold today, so I'm trying really hard to get some tyre

temp, and I just probably overstepped the mark a bit. But yeah, it's all, you

know, they're probably warm now.

You've been chasing really hard all weekend. I know you'd be desperate to

your first win of the year. There was some fantastic driving yesterday.

Thank you very much. It was a really fun race.

And, yeah, starting in a similar position today. So hopefully we can move

forward. You know, after yesterday, I'm very confident.

Well, you've cured the tyres a bit. Maybe that might help. You never know.

done to Abby. But there we go. What were we expecting from this final race?

Gloves off?

Gloves will definitely be off. I think there's a lot of people in front of Abby

here who are also desperate to get a win.

Could be her first win. Who knows?

Yeah, looking forward to this one. Lots of fast drivers up the front there. But

Abby Pulling, we've just spoken to her. She's got to make headway if she wants

to win this race today. Well, let's hope they finish with a flourish. Here we go

then. This is the final race of the final round of F1 Academy.

Eight different drivers have so far won an F1 Academy race.

Eleven of them have stood on the podium.

It's been a fantastic effort from driver team F1 and the F1 Academy team to

launch a brand new series aimed at developing and preparing female talent

progress through to the higher levels of motorsport, both off track and on it.

And whilst we're only just getting started, the 2023 season comes to an end

in Austin, Texas at the Circuit of the Americas, playing host to Formula One

since 2012, featuring several corners. inspired by legendary tracks from around

the world. The Sena S of Interlagos, Maggots and Beckers from Silverstone,

Hockenheim Stadium section, to name but a few. It's a fan favourite and it's a

driver favourite and we have so far enjoyed two wonderful F1 Academy races

around this 5 .5 kilometre, 3 .4 mile track and we have one more

to go.

Race 3, 12 laps, about a maximum of half an hour.

racing and this is your poll woman Jess Edgar who took her first poll

this season for this race 3 a fantastic effort from Jess Edgar

alongside her. This is your 2023 Drivers' Champion clinched it at the end

race one. Marta Garcia, she'll start right alongside her. A mix of tyres as

on the grid. In fact, actually, everybody has the same tyre. It's a

compound from Pirelli. Some have newer tyres than others, though. Nerea Marti

here has some brand new tyres to play with, so watch out for her. That will

affect how things fold under the 12 laps. But here's your starting grid then

15th at the back. It's Carrie Schreiner, the German racer.

Then comes Megan Gilkes in her last professional race before she joins Aston

Martin as a performance engineer. She's behind Maite Caceres. In 12th, it's Amna

Al -Khabassi just behind 11th place Lola Lovenfoss.

Chloe Grant from 10th in front of the recent addition to the McLaren F1 Driver

Academy. Bianca Bustamante starts 9th behind Emily de Hoos and Chloe Chong who

had a sterling defensive drive in yesterday's race. She starts from 7th

Hamda Al -Khabassi, our race 2 winner from 6th.

Abby Pulling is fifth.

Leina Buller, second in the championship. There's a really good

for P2. She's fourth behind Nerea Marti. And your front row, Marta Garcia, your

2023 champion.

And the young 18 -year -old Jess Edgar in her first pole position

for F1 Academy has the best view in the house.

We will get the formation up underway. Let's hear from Marti.

We have everything to win it. So let's attack and go for it.

This is the one for Marty. She's had one win so far this season.

Looking to get another one before it all wraps up.

So a couple of things to look out for.

across this race as I mentioned will be that battle for second in the driver's

championship between this woman here Lena Buller who currently occupies

place but there is just 15 points between her and Handa Alkabasi so the

for P2 very much to play for also the battle for the team championship is

yet to be decided there's just six points between Prema and MP Motorsport

that one will go to the bitter end there's also a battle full four at p3 in

teams as well between art and road in carlin so we will keep you up to date

that slightly different conditions here though this morning quite cloudy quite

foggy at the circuit of the americas it's starting to dissipate as you can

let's hear what mr mante is saying one last dance let's end it tonight

One last dance then for Bianca Bustamante. She will be returning to F1

next season. She'll make the switch to ART, where she'll be supported by the

McLaren F1 team. And that's part of an initiative together with F1 Academy and

Formula 1, where all 10 F1 teams will have one driver and have their livery on

one car competing in the series next year. The remaining five who are not

supported by an F1 team will be supported by other high -profile

from F1 and F1 Academy.

But we're just about to get underway for the formation lap then. Guiding you

through this race is myself, Harry Benjamin. I'm very pleased to say

for race three is Anthony Davidson.

Hello, man. How are you? Hi, Harry. Yeah, very good, thank you. Just about

it back from the grid through the commentary box to watch the start of

formation lap. Yeah, really excited for this one and great to be with you as

well. Just in the nick of time there.

start from Abby Pulling as she pulls away towards turn one. Over a hundred

incline as you get up to turn one and she's made it there. She's got some

rubber as well. You can see the white sticker still there on those Pirelli

as they make their way around.

But Ant, what have you made so far of the two races we've had in F1 Academy?

Well, two very different races, Harry, because obviously you had the reverse

grid yesterday, and that really mixed things up, didn't it? So you've got,

all due respect, the slightly slower drivers starting the race at the front,

you had the entertainment from P8. They swapped the top eight positions, so P8

effectively coming through the field, and that really spited things up.

Maybe a slight tweak to the regulations for next year perhaps is that I wanted

to see the second race with that reverse grid slightly longer.

than the first race. And it seems to be inverted, as it is at the moment. Just

an idea for next year, because I didn't want it to end. It was great. And we saw

drivers like Chloe Chong in the Premacar putting up a real good fight with

drivers coming up behind her, putting in a really strong defensive drive.

Whereas today, she's going to have to be a bit more on the attack because she's

lower down on the grid there in P7.

So, yeah, but I'm fascinated for this race today.

This is the qualifying we had, obviously, two days ago.

So a brilliant effort from Jess Edgar.

And Marta Garcia, the championship winner, of course, from race one. We'll

to speak of Jess Edgar there before she gets to the end of this formation lap.

But we can hear what she has to say ahead of the race.

I was really happy. Usually quali is my weakest point of the weekend.

I've struggled with that all year, but we've got a lot of hard work in on the

simulator back at Carlin to do quali sims to try and fix that part.

I think it's a really good track. I really like it. One of my favourites. I

try and be in the same place every lap and be consistent.

When she was told she got pole, her reaction was rather minimal. She's a bit

a quiet character in the paddock, but you could tell the emotion that she was

going through when she secured that pole. Less than a tenth covered the top

three in the second qualifying session, which set the grid for this race.

for her first pole position there, doing some final burnouts, trying to get some

heat into these Pirelli tyres. No mandatory pit stops in this race. And

back to full Grand Prix style points. We had the shorter reverse grid race

yesterday where less points were given out. Now it's the big point, 25 for the

win, 18 for second, 15 for third, all the way down to one point for tenth.

still second place in the Drivers' Championship, up for grabs, and the

Championship, up for grabs as well, between Prema and MP Motorsport.

as the pit lane starts to get ready and wrapped up. And what are the drivers

going to be thinking in these final moments as they pull into their grid

Well, they'll be thinking that it's much cooler conditions today before the

start of this race, just 23 degrees track temperature.

That's around 20 degrees different from yesterday afternoon.

So the first lap... First two laps or so are going to be super critical to get

those tyres up to temperature and the brakes as well. Braking into turn one is

going to be very much playing on their minds here.

Well, 15 cars will stand on the grid, and you're absolutely right. It's very

different conditions that they've experienced from the first two races, as

of the lead engineers at MP Motorsport, Charlotte Phelps, watches on. But at the

back of the pack, then, will be Megan Gilkes and Carrie Schreiner, who line up

in 14th and 15th. But on the front row, on pole position, will be Jess Edgar,

alongside our champion, Marta Garcia. Green flag at the back. It's all eyes to

the light. And foot to the floor as we go racing for race three.

here in Austin for F1 Academy. A slightly slow start from Edgar, but

able to nip across to the inside and hold in front. She'll have that inside

line. Marta Garcia forced to take the wider line. Nerea and Marti trying to

involved as well.

Edgar and Garcia running a little bit wide, and that has allowed Marti up into

second spot as they now head downhill at a turn two and back into the

rollercoaster ride, imbibed by Mayes and Becketts from Silverstone through

three, four, and five. But a nice clean start, and Edgar just about... able to

hold on to her lead for the time being but Marty is closing rapidly a

really important start there for Edgar to get that right and yeah for Marty as

well like you say Harry getting through that was a critical move there and looks

really to be on the attack here getting a lot of temperature into those tyres on

the attack into turn 11 possibly Edgar has to defend there and does it wisely

perfectly done and there goes pulling down the inside locks up is she going to

make this move stick

Ah, there's some off -track excursions there from Al -Khobaisi, and that's

to carry on down towards Turn 12. She's in the slipstream, though, is pulling.

She actually had quite a poor getaway, so she's trying to make back those

positions she lost. Here she comes. Pulling alongside Hamda Al -Khobaisi

Hamda Al -Khobaisi in the number four all -orange MP motor sport car. Abby

pulling on the inside. She's been so good on the brakes now into Turn 12, and

she holds firm.

Al -Khobaisi forced out wide, but they've all been taking that line. In

some going a little bit further wide. in the background of the picture, but it

looks like Pulling and Hamda Al -Khobaisi are still fighting toe -to

front, Edgar has managed to create a little bit of a gap between herself and

Nerea Marthi, who has now got Marta Garcia all up in her mirrors.

Hamda Al -Khobaisi, here she is, still in front of Abby Pulling as we come

towards the end of lap one. Edgar leads.

Yeah, Pulling was the...

The one on the attack yesterday in the second race, in that reverse grid, she

made lots of overtaking moves. Turn 15 was one of those. And Hamza Al

you can see, she knew that was coming and defended into that very corner.

Pulling's going to have to think a little bit harder here where to place

car, but she certainly seems to have the speed. For me, she's the one to watch

in this race at the moment.

Yeah, she's been looking rapid at every single race so far. Just behind Pulling,

though, comes the red and white framer of Chloe Chong, who had a great

drive yesterday.

She's the youngest driver in the grid. She's currently battling with the Dutch

woman, Amelie de Hoost, in the number five MP motorsport car. This is the

for seventh position, coming downhill towards turn two and out through three.

Chong... holds it at the moment, and De Hoest will have to tuck it behind, very

difficult to try and make an overtaking manoeuvre through this section of the

track, but while they've been fighting, they've brought Chloe Grant into the

fold, and this is all over 7th, 8th and 9th, with Amna Al -Khobassi rounding out

the top 10 at the moment, but a message from race control for Nerea Marthi, who

is currently in 2nd, full start, that has been noted, and usually a slam dunk.

I did see a little creep there. We also saw that in race one, Harry, from Marta

Garcia, but she just about got away with that. But it looked to be a little bit

more from Marti at the start of this race. It'll be interesting to see what

stewards decide.

Back on to the back straight this time. It's Emily Dehost and Chloe Chong still

going toe to toe. Emily Dehost trying to make use of the toe. She'll have the

outside line making the move on Chong.

Chong's got her elbows out yesterday, but I'm not sure she'll quite be able to

hold on to this position. Quite lock up for Dehost as they come through. The

left -hander of 12, then the right -hander of 13 beckons, and Dehost is

on Chong. Dehost up to 7, Chong down to 8. Nice move for the Dutch woman, but

Chloe Grant in the black and white. White ART is right there as well. Lock

from De Host. It doesn't allow Chong to bounce back.

And now Chong's having to defend from Grant, the Scottish racer in the number

nine black and white ART car.

And that was an important move there, wasn't it, for the MP Motorsport, that

team rivalry between Bremer and MP Motorsport. Just six points in it, so a

pivotal overtaking, an extra point there gained for MP Motorsport by that move

from De Host.

Absolutely. And if you are new to F1 Academy, you're very welcome along. This

the final race of the season. We have three races every weekend. We've had two

yesterday. We crowned our champion in the form of Marta Garcia.

But the team's championship is still very much up for grabs between Prema and

Motorsport. And second place in the championship is also very much looking

a tasty fight between Lena Buller and Hamda Al -Khabassi. Let's get a look at

the start again.

and oh yeah i think it was well look just keep an eye on car number one there

the second row it's close but i do think it was just a bit of a jump start a bit

too eager in anticipation of the lights which seemed to be held for quite a long

time but still nevertheless there'll be other teams probably putting in a bit of

a complaint there and to make it worse she did make an overtaking move here

around the outside of turn two so Was that due to the extra speed she had

carried up towards turn one because of that potential jump start?

Yeah, and this was a mistake from Nerea Barty as well, who was

battling there with...

Marta Garcia then just fell off the back of Jess Edgar so that's a false start

still being uh doped by race control get to hear the outcome of that one yet

we'll bring it to you as and when we get it but Marta is currently in second

behind Jess Edgar who she's now close right up to, about half a second between

them, but Tedger is another greater that took absolutely rapid this weekend,

half a second, Edgar leads by Marti, then Garcia, Bula, Hamda Al -Khobayi in

fourth and fifth, and that is the battle for P2 in the Drivers' Championship as

well, so very much one to watch, Pulling is in sixth, the hosts, Chong, Grant

and Hamda Al -Khobayi are the top ten, and that's interesting, and no further

investigation then for Nerea Marti for that full start, she's got away with it.

Wow, well, I think pretty lucky. And like I said, we saw it in race one from

few drivers, Marta Garcia being one of them. But yeah, they seem to be a little

bit more lenient. And, you know, we see with the track limits as well. And, you

know, don't forget, these are very young drivers.

They're learning the ropes. And not just, you know, it's not just all about

female category here. You know, they're young drivers in their own right on the

stepping stone.

towards Formula One. And, you know, it's fantastic that we have this series

created for female drivers, for younger drivers out there in go -karts perhaps,

to see this as an opportunity, as a stepping stone to further their career

see it as a possibility.

And I think if you're a little bit too draconian with the rules early on, then

it might put people off as well, put teams off. So, you know, we have to take

with a pinch of salt.

Absolutely, just getting another look there at one of the framers, Bo Chong,

running out wide there, definitely a breach of track limits.

Watching on as she's pushing hard in that frame -up, one of three framers in

field, all 15 drivers still in this race.

This is one of the other framers in the form of Martha Garcia, your 2023

champion, your inaugural series champion, and she has had a brilliant...

far. Seven wins so far, 11 podiums to her name, looking to make that 12

if she can hold on to the third place she's currently in.

Right now, if it was to end like this, Kramer would win the team's

An under -breaking, Marta Garcia, that front end looking a little bit wobbly,

coming towards the end of the back straight. Here's Pulling.

Head down and let's focus on our race. You can get these guys in front.

Abbey Pulling makes a fair point, but we've seen this through the last couple

races of F1 Academy. It's not being watched as much as you would see it in

Formula 1. But that underlines what you were saying, and it's all about a part

of the F1 Academy plan of getting these drivers to learn and develop

throughout their careers. This is just the start for some of these drivers.

There's a little bit of a difference in...

...experience level as well for these drivers. The likes of Chloe Chong,

youngest on the grid, her third step up into car racing, and after yesterday's

result, equaled her best career result with a sixth -place finish. It was a

fantastic run for Chloe Chong, currently in eighth at the moment, looking to

pick up another point -paying position.

But end of lap, or start of lap five, then, I should say, and Jess Edgar with

1 .2 -second lead in front of Nerea Marti.

Edgar, after a bit of a wobbly start, has had a pretty good run of it. There's

little move further back in the pack between the Campos. That's Lola Lovinfos

and the Primo Bianca Bustamante. That's outside of the points at the moment.

Lovinfos is 11th.

Bustamante is in 12th. Bustamante has to hold on behind at the moment.

But Jess Edgar is starting to pull away a little bit at the front.

Yeah, it's ebbed and flowed a little bit, hasn't it, at the front there. And

laps ago, she lost three tenths to Marty, who was just gaining, especially

that middle sector that I saw on the times.

Come on, this is too fast there. Come on, you can do it.

Yeah, good advice there from a Bustamante engineer.

She does seem to have the speed. So, yeah, she can get her head down and try

make some positions up here. It's really starting to close in in this midfield

battle.

It certainly is, and a reminder, if it was to end right now in terms of the

teams, it would be Prema who would take the team championship ahead of MT

Motorsport. We're on lap 5 of 12 for this final race of the season in F1

Academy, and it's an inaugural season. We do come back for another year next

season, seven rounds, all supporting Formula 1.

This battle brewing right at the back for Maite Casadez, who is currently

And she has got Megan Jilkes behind her in 14th. Jilkes having to stay behind

her. And Lovenfot and Bustamante, the two just there. And look at that wide

from Bustamante, almost a little bit too wide from the framer in front.

But she just about gets it turned in and still spotted it behind Lovenfot. And

Casadez and Megan Jilkes continue to do battle. This is Megan Jilkes at the

number 12, further back.

Two battles raging on. No points available for any of these positions,

racecraft they're displaying and learning with every corner as they go.

final corner to complete this lap for Lovinfoss and Bustamante. Lovinfoss in

number two Campos. Bustamante in the red and white Prima. Then Caceres, then

Gilks. That's the rear of the field. Then Harry Schreiner is a little bit

detached further back as we start lap number six.

Yeah, I think Leventos went for an inside move, just a defensive move

unnecessarily so today, Harry, into turn 15.

Bustamante went wide, therefore, to try and get a better exit. So thinking

outside of the box, trying to, you know, weight the car differently to try and

carry speed elsewhere on the track. And that's why Bustamante was able to put a

little bit of pressure on through turn 16, 17 and 18. But turn 19 isn't really

an overtaking spot.

Jeff Edgar.

1 .6 seconds the gap she has in front, looking to secure her first win in

F1 Academy.

She's doing everything she can do at the moment to hold on to that. Nerea Marti

behind, 1 .4 seconds now back, then Garcia, Bula, Hamda Al -Khabati has been

pulling. The host, Sean Grant and Hamda Al -Khabati, that's the top ten.

are all on the point score at Lovenfoss, still in front of Bustamante,

Cappellet, Jilk and Schreiner, the 15 drivers still in this race. And we spoke

about Megan Jilk a little earlier on. She may be in 14th at the moment. She

into this race weekend and announced this will be her final race of her

professional racing career. But she's going on to pursue a career. Here she

Megan Jilk, a career as a performance engineer with Aston Martin in Formula 1

and nearly doing what Fernando Alonso did last year in going up on two wheels

the bump.

Down the inside for Jilks.

Caceres is forced wide.

Caceres just about stays in front, but Jilks wants this position.

It may well only be over 13th and 14th, but Jilks is desperate in this, her

final race in her single -seater racing career before she goes off to join the

Aston Martin Formula One team as a performance engineer and doing

can to try and pick up Caceres.

Cazares, the Uruguayan racer, is so far holding out in front.

Reminiscent, sorry Harry, yeah, reminiscent of the lap before that I was

explaining with Bustamante, that turn 15 through 16, 17.

Jukes kind of set her up by taking that wider line, but there's nothing you can

really do with that momentum before turn 19. So she's going to be on the attack

again, a clean exit she's had.

Out of turn 20, that final corner. Into the slipstream. No DRS, of course, in

this category.

These F4 cars. Is she going to send it down the inside?

She thinks about it. Late on the brakes.

Can she get it stopped in time? And turn. Don't go off the track.

Brilliant stuff.

Oh, it's been repassed.

Great racing between these two.

Fantastic. Just a little bit deeper for Maite Cazalet.

I should say Megan jilked into the corner, then Maita Castro is able to

back at her. This battle, brilliant battle.

No points, though, for it. Currently over 13th and 14th. And this just

highlights how bumpy this Kota track is. But Castro is really pushing jilks to

the limit of the track.

on the track and off the track because that was and there's a reason why it's

bumpy off the track you're not supposed to be there but you could argue that she

was pushed out wide and that's why she ended up going there here's the replay

turn one just couldn't quite get it stopped enough carried a bit too much

in there you didn't need to really carry that extra speed the job was done in

turn one if you're at least side by side

So, is this, you know, this isn't... No, this is back to life.

Here comes Chilk.

She's coming for it this time. She's not been pushed as far out wide on the

previous lap. And it looks like she's been able to get the job done. But

dips back in to try and get a bit of the toe. Who's braver on the brakes?

Chilk's on the inside.

Caceres round the outside.

They both run wide.

Caceres will have the inside line for the left -hander.

Late on the brakes again.

Is there contact? No. They just... about avoid each other and now jilks will

have the inside line for turn 15 big lock up for casades and jilks as well

runs wide but she's managed to make the move work jilks in front and securing

13th place in front of Maitre Cassidy. And with five laps to go, this is one of

the best battles we've seen all weekend.

Fantastic. That was properly fighting fire with fire there, wasn't it? Using

same tactics on the exit of turn 12. If we were going to go around the outside

of me, go straight off the circuit, so am I. And you know what? I'll do the

thing on the exit of turn 15 as well, just for good measure.

So, yeah, having to...

rethink the way that we think about racing uh in this category here and i

stress that it's not alone it's not unique in that they're turning a blind

to track limits other categories that are racing here as well it's the same

thing it's much more strict in formula one so we have to get our head out of

that in many ways watching this category like i say the porsches that are also

racing here we've got a historic f1 race as well they use a different racetrack.

And I think if you just accept that, then you can get on and enjoy the

It's not Formula 1 standard. That will come, hopefully, for some of these

at least, later on in their career.

Absolutely. F1 Academy doing all it can in just its first season to begin and to

develop that ladder up to the pinnacle of motorsport for all of our drivers,

also the off -track talent as well. Important to remember, it is not just

those in the seat.

of these Formula cars, and it's also about those working in engineering

management roles, tyre technician roles, anything you like within the team

garage environment.

Lap 8 of 12, Jess Edgar still leads, 1 .6 seconds to gap to Nerea Marti, then

comes Marta Garcia.

Really fascinating battle between Leina Brüller and Hamda Al -Khrabaisi for

fourth and fifth. That's the battle also for second in the Drivers'

Championship. Right now, Brüller would still hold on to second in front of

Al -Khrabaisi. Then comes Abby Pulling in sixth. Amelie de Hoos is seventh.

This is her here coming into the left -hander of 15.

Then Chong and Chloe Grant still in that fight. And Hamda Al -Khrabaisi just a

little bit detached further back in tenth, currently picking up.

the final points paying position for the time being. But that mist and fog from

earlier this morning seems to have cleared a little bit.

Where are we at the moment? Track temperature 24 .5 degrees, air

degrees. So where visibility this morning at was almost nothing. It's

quite nicely now.

Yeah, it's getting closer to the conditions we had for the first race

And, yeah, that would be a distant memory now, the foggy start to this

at least the formation lap.

But, yeah, looking at the front of this field again with Edgar, she's had a bit

of a comfort blanket there with Marty, who's just gradually falling behind. And

I do feel this could have been a very different race today, Harry, if Garcia

hadn't have lost that position to Marty right from the word go out of turn one,

because Garcia looks to be piling the pressure on now to Nerea Marty.

We saw a lock -up from Marti into turn 12, ran a bit wide, starting to look a

little bit more flustered with the champion right behind her. Absolutely,

gap between Marti and Garcia, eight tenths of a second now, but it's been

and flowing over the course of a lap. It's down to half a second at one stage,

and then it's another second and a half back to Lena Buller.

and Hamda Al -Khobaiti. This battle still raging on. Dahosin, 7th, Chong,

Grant, 9th. Then comes Hamda Al -Khobaiti, who's being caught now by

Lovenfors, who is still in front of Bianca Bustamante. Bustamante hasn't

able to make that move stick. Then comes Jilks, who after that ferocious battle

with Maita Casadez, has managed to cement her position in 13th place.

14th, and Carrie Schreiner, 15th and last as it currently stands.

But down the back straight then, this gaggle of cars... Midfield is where some

of the closest squabbles are, but nobody quite lining up to make a move.

Bustamante still hasn't given up hope of trying to get through on Lola

Lovenfoss, but I suppose it's trying to force the driver in front of you into a

mistake now, isn't it, in the closing stages of this race?

It really is, yeah. You see lots of cars close to each other and a few lock -ups

here, and this is the move into Turn 15.

Almost contact there, but narrowly escaping.

Amna Al -Khabaithi, very close there. And when you lock up a car, obviously

you're a little bit of a passenger.

And at that moment, you're out of control and you're just praying

you are going to start to get some rotation, some turn into the car. And I

thought that could have been a bit of contact there. So well done to the

for... for narrowly avoiding that one. Yeah, narrowly indeed, but providing us

with some great entertainment then across the line for lap 10 of 12 here in

Austin, Texas for race three of F1 Academy. We are currently looking at the

battle for 10th place. It's Amna Al -Khobayi who heads them into turn one,

she's run a bit wide. Lola Lovenfors is going to try it down the inside.

Brilliant move from Lobinfos. Can she hold on to it? Amna Al -Khobaisi's off

road, over the bumps, rejoins side by side with Lobinfos. And in the

Bianca Bustamante is just watching and biding her time. Two don't really go

one there.

And Lobinfos has to bail out of it last minute. But she hung on as long as she

could. Amna Al -Khobaisi holds the position for the time being in 10th.

11th, Bustamante 12th.

Yeah, I could basically, just like you said, how he just carried a bit too much

speed in, couldn't get the car turned under the brakes in turn one.

That left herself vulnerable on the exit, but, yep, threw the car off track.

And we've got a move potentially coming up here, a defensive line from Lovenfoss

into turn 11.

And we're going to get a switch back of the lines here.

Crossover effect coming up. Yeah, sure enough. So this will be a drag race now

between these two. Down towards turn 12 with Bustamante putting the pressure on

Lovenfoss. Here comes Bianca Bustamante. But here comes Lola Lovenfoss as well.

As you say, a drag race down the back straight all the way to turn number 12.

And now Gravesi is the MP Motorsport car in front. But who is going to break

later between Bustamante and Lovenfoss? Lovenfoss on... the inside Bianca

Bustamante on the outside that'll become the inside line but Lobinvoss is

squeezing her right to the apex Bustamante holds firm and gets the

Lobinvoss fight back Bustamante sees her coming but they both lock up Lobinvoss

fights the inside and there's contact Lobinvoss and Bustamante make contact

the left hander of turn 15

And you could kind of see it coming a little bit. Buster Magsay manages to

going, but that looked like it was written in the stars a bit, Andy. You

It was all getting a bit silly, wasn't it? All racing off the circuit. And it

was when I saw Lombenfoss go to the inside off the track at turn 14, I

uh -oh, this could be interesting, because I know it's bumpy there. Sure

the lock -up came. As I described before, that's when you usually see a

contact.

So this is where it all began in turn 12.

Bustamante carried it on off the circuit into 13, and usually that would have

been job done.

But then watch Lovinfos here, if we carry on here, off the track on the

and basically cut the inside of the corner.

Bustamante wasn't expecting it, and there's the collision. Like you said,

that was written in the start.

Yeah, but Bustamante, we saw, able to get going. I think Lovinfos, where she's

fallen all the way to the back of the pack, and taken a fair bit of damage

to her camp. Let's hear what she said.

I think that's a difficult one to call in terms of if there was room or not. I

think if there was ever a lesson in it as to...

Why we stick to the white line, that was it.

Because it's a different type of racing. I'm trying to get my head around it as

well on the fly here as we're about to see another move potentially down into

turn 12 with Garcia.

Garcia trying round the outside on the rear. Marty has fallen back a little bit

further from our leader, Jess Edgar. Marty under pressure from our 2023

champion. Marta Garcia in the red and white Kramer. The two Spaniards going

-to -toe. Lock -up from Edgar in front of them as they come into turn 15.

Marti and Garcia keep it neat and tidy, but Garcia's running out of time to make

this work.

I like the way that Garcia drives.

You know, she's clean, usually pretty tidy and thinks about where she's

the car. I can understand fully why she's the champion of this inaugural

here with F1 Academy.

So, you know, she's got to try and find a way past. You know, she wants to do it

cleanly. She had a bit of contact yesterday and actually put herself out

race in race two. But that's a rare mistake.

by her so right where can we do this now as we enter the final lap maybe a

little bit too far behind in towards turn one as Marty had a good exit out of

the final corner but it's not over yet for her as we start the final lap Jess

Edgar has about 18 corners to go until she might well be an F1 Academy

race winner she has yet to do that she took her first pole position for this

race Can she convert that into her first win? She's got a buffer of two seconds

between her and this fight here. Nerea Marti in second.

Marta Garcia in third. Garcia still hounding Marm, trying to force her into

sort of mistake.

Then comes Dana Buller in fourth. She's currently P2 in the championship

standing in front of Amna Al -Khrabaisi.

They're battling for that position, but right now it would go the way of Buller

if they ended in fourth and fifth. Pulling a six into host seventh. Chong

eighth. Grant ninth. And Amna Al -Khrabaisi holding on to that final

-paying position at the moment in tenth. Then comes Chilks.

Caceres. Bustamante, after being involved in that collision, is 13th in

Schreiner. And Lovinfoss down in 15.

Right then, on to the back straight.

Use of the toe.

Can Marta Garcia get right up to the back of Nerea Marti and try a move down

inside? Will she just out of the last minute? No.

Marty moves slightly to the inside of the corner and bends her off. And really

now there's only a couple of corners left to try and find a way. We're

penalties coming through for Lola Lovipos and for Bianca Bustamante. But

they do battle at the back of the pack, there's just several corners left. And

right now Jess Edgar is scooting away.

Mireya Marty in second.

Marta Garcia in third as they fight.

That's now allowed Jess Edgar a clean route to take her first F1 Academy win

she's only got.

Two corners left to go. Make that one.

Jess Edgar, a phenomenal drive. Just 18 years old from Cumbria. Jess Edgar

cements her place in F1 Academy.

She takes the chequered flag and takes her first win of the season. And to the

line in second, Marti just about holds on with Marta Garcia, our 2023 champion.

Finishing off the podium, Bula 4, Hamda Alkabasi in fifth.

Pulling, crosses the line in sixth.

This holds on in front of Chonk, Grant, and it should be Amna Al -Khobaiti who

will round out the top ten.

But, Am, that was a bit exciting, didn't it? It really did. I was really

impressed with the racing at the front there, especially Jess Edgar.

Great drive by her. She did everything she needed to do.

Cool, calm, collected. Got a great start.

You know what?

I'm not sure she knows that she's the winner. I don't think she knows she's

finished the race just yet, because she's absolutely flying still, pushing

car through the S's. I think she's finally slowed down now. She was utterly

enjoying herself, and she was flat out past the line. I think she didn't see

chequered flag.

She's so concentrated. In the zone, in the zone.

Brilliant, brilliant stuff by her today, I must say. So, yeah, a race winner,

finally in this category, right at the end.

Proof that, yeah, from Paul as well. So proof that, you know, there's serious

progression going on from her side in these cars. So, yeah, fantastic to see

Marty as well and Garcia.

Really solid professional driver, I must say, by those two.

And, yeah, I really liked what I saw at the front of this race today.

Well, when she was told she got Paul to qualify, she was rather quiet. Let's

hear what she says about the win. That is B1.

B1.

amazing drive really good job well done fastest lap and you won incredible drive

really good job well done well done be really happy and please yourself

Not too much of a reaction then from Jess Edgar, but a fantastic win for her

front of Nerea Marti, who was being hounded all the way by Marta Garcia, but

manages to get that second spot. It was only by a couple of tenths she edged

Garcia. And Lena Buller, in finishing ahead of Hamda Al -Khobaiti.

manages to hold on to P2 in the championship which is really good news

because she won't be allowed back this season as she's reached the age limit

F1 Academy but being backed by a Formula 1 team already is letting the bullet

back by the Sauber F1 Academy so I'm sure there'll only be good news for her

the horizon as they head back in to the pit at the Park Burbank.

And the beautiful thing about this, Dan, is we get brilliant racing action on

the track, but the action that F1 Academy is providing behind the scenes

well, it's only just getting started.

Yeah, the access that we've had with Sky TV following this series this weekend

has been second to none. And a big thanks to F1 Academy and to all the

as well.

Jess Edgar, you are a race winner. That's the race you wanted to win from

position. There's nowhere to hide in that circumstance.

You know, it wasn't a reverse grid.

Job well done.

straight over and a hug with stephanie carlin the principal of roadie carlin

her uh engineer and uh i think jess and you'll have a rather wide smile

underneath that help in front of the ray of marvia martha garcia comes over to

congratulate her As well, she does indeed pick up another podium. So 12

to Martha Garcia's name in the end. Not the most, though. That goes to Elena

Guller, who's picked up 13 podiums across the season for the Swiss racer.

fantastic for her. And there is Nerea Marti, who couldn't quite match the pace

of Jess Edgar for the win.

But she managed to come home onto the podium.

And another thing we should really be able to give a shout out to, and we

mentioned it.

earlier on in the year as well to Hamda Al -Khobaisi. After that win she managed

to achieve in Valencia, after breaking a bone in her hand, she was told that she

wouldn't be able to come back and race as quickly as she would like, but she

managed to have the rehabilitation she needed and had that mental determination

and came back in Valencia and managed to take the race win, which was massive

for her. But she's actually been really struggling this weekend as well. She had

a massive blister on her right hand from the broken arm and hasn't had enough.

strength to really grip the steering wheel hard enough. So she's been in a

of pain. So a fantastic effort to win race two yesterday and cement it with

another top five finish for her. So fantastic work from Handa Al -Khobayzi

Yeah, I mean, there's healing the bone. That's one thing. But then, like you

say, it's the muscle that attaches itself to that. And you need the

with the wheel in these cars.

Well, let's hear from our race winner, Jess Edgar, talking to Naomi Schiff.

Jess Edgar, a huge congratulations. Your first win of the F1 Academy season and

you did it here in the very last race. How are you feeling?

Winning car racing as well.

Well,

it's the seventh round of the season and you've waited until now to clinch that

first victory. How was it like? I mean, big crowds out here. What were you

feeling in the car?

Yeah, it's amazing.

All the big crowds. You don't really think about it when you're driving.

But yeah, it's a really good atmosphere here.

Now tell me, you're going to celebrate, obviously, the final race of the season.

What are you hoping for for next season?

I'm just hoping for a top three next season.

I hoped for a top five this year, but I haven't quite done it. But I think this

last round is really boosting my confidence next year.

That's fantastic to hear. We'll go and celebrate. You've got some time before

you have to worry about next year.

Thank you.

Jess Edgar, your race three winner here in Austin for F1 Academy, chatting to

Naomi Schiff. She waited right to the very end of the season, but she came

and managed to get the win.

And one of the stats coming into this weekend of Jess Edwards, she is the only

driver to have started from outside of the top 10 in qualifying to race her way

through to the podium. And she's done that twice in this season. One of the

first race from 12th on the grid to third. And then again in Monza from 11th

the grid all the way to a third place position.

So she managed to...

get onto the top step of the rostrum.

And a big thank you has to go to the woman on the right there, Lucy Wolfe,

F1 Academy Managing Director. Without her, this would not be possible.

And as she has been saying all weekend long, this really is only the beginning.

This is just the end of the first season.

of f1 academy there is still a long way to go a lot of hard work to be put in

what a fantastic start to this as well as we head into the cool down room and

looked like they worked hard out there let's have a listen in shall we

A little bit of discussion there from the two Spaniards, Nerea Marti and Marti

Garcia. Here comes Edgar.

I think they all worked hard for that one there.

Just seeing in the background as well the epic battle. It wasn't over any

in the end, but Jilks and Cáceres.

They were very pushy. You were like, huh?

A little bit at the start.

And then I messed up at time 11 and you caught me. And I was like, oh no.

Do you know your laptop?

I do.

Eight, five, I think.

I think they were just having a little chatter about the start there. It wasn't

the bend of start, actually, for Jess Edgar. A little bit slow off the line,

that was compounded really by a good start from Martha Garcia. But she kept

cool. She kept calm and managed to hold on to the lead despite a lot of

pressure. And then she was able to really get up and away from Nerea Marti

behind. What a fantastic effort from her.

as we are just waiting for the final podium celebrations of the year in

F1 Academy.

But we will be back next season in a seven -round calendar, all exclusively

supporting Formula One, starting in Saudi Arabia and ending up in Abu Dhabi.

for now, it is time for your podium celebrations, and let's welcome out

place... on the podium but your 2023 F1 Academy champion Marta Garcia takes to

the third step on the roster huge cheers rain out for Nerea Marti of

Campos the Spaniard gets second place but she left it

all the way to the final race but Jess Edgar steps out in a roading car in gear

managing to secure the first win in her S1 Academy season.

The British national anthem for Jess Edgar, your race three winner. And to

out the trophies, president and CEO of Formula One, Stefano Domenicali, who has

had such a big input alongside Susie Wolfe into this inaugural series. And

close tie -ups with Formula One supporting this weekend. But ahead of

seven rounds next year, F1 Academy supporting Formula One at Saudi Arabia,

Miami. Spain, Zandvoort, Singapore, Qatar, and in Abu Dhabi, as well as the

-up between 10 F1 teams supporting a driver and having their livery on one

competing in F1 Academy next year with five additional partners.

So that is all to come for F1 Academy. But right now, the celebration can

happen. On to the podium, and they've gone full beans this time around.

Particularly on Jess Edgar, youngest there on the podium, just 18 years of

Nerea Murphy up there, 21 years old, and Martha Garcia, 23 years old, and

smiling for the photos.

And a hard -earned drink and a hard -earned celebration there for our top

three, and indeed all of our 15 drivers who have taken part in F1 Academy this

season. And all indeed managed to finish that race as well. But the incident

between Bustamante and Lovacos saw them tumble to the back of the order. But we

can now confirm the result of race three and the final race of F1 Academy in

2023. Jess Edgar takes her first win in front of Nerea Marti and your 2023

champion, Marta Garcia.

Lena Buller holding on to fourth place. That secures P2 in the championship in

front of Handa Al -Khabedi. Abby Pulling in sixth.

Then aimly to host Chloe Chong with another run to a points -paying position

eighth in front of Chloe Grant.

And Amna Al -Khawati managing to hold on to that final points -paying position.

Megan Jilks in eleventh with a baffling drive with Maite Caceres. She finished

twelfth. Bianca Bustamante involved in that incident with Lovenfoss. Ended up

thirteenth in front of Carrie Schreiner and Lola Lovenfoss at the back. Both her

and Bustamante were given a penalty.

Well then, that just about does it. The curtain falls. Thank you for your

company and a big thank you to the F1 Academy team down on the ground. To

back at base at F1 HQ in Biggin Hill. And all that's left to say is, Marta

Garcia is your 2023 F1 Academy champion. Who will take the crown in 2024?

Join us then. We're only just getting started.

See you next year.

Are indeed, and it will return, if you enjoyed that, this weekend. All seven

rounds on F1 weekend in 2024, starting in Saudi Arabia. We have Miami,

Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, the sailing Qatar, and Yas Marina next year.

The focus on Europe, Asia, and North America. And I think a resounding

for the 16 to 25 -year -old girls. Marta Garcia will, of course, move on to

another series, but many of those will be back.

30 on air with a race start from 8 o 'clock. Today's US Grand Prix here at

Circuit of the Americas.

And it is Charlotte Clare on pole position, but the girl that was on pole

position there, Jessica Edgar, picking up her first win of the campaign, doing

it in style. All three winners in this final round of the year have come from

pole position.

and she sealed it in some style. Really pleased for her, just 18 years of age.

It was a great proposition she stole in the second qualifying session on Friday,

and able to celebrate with some champagne up on the podium. Jessica,

to see you. Many, many congratulations.

You've had to wait until the very, very last race, but the trophy's yours. I

should imagine you'll treasure that one.

Yeah, it's a really special race here in Austin with Formula One, and I'm so

happy that.

I did it on the last race of the year. Could you feel the eyeballs on you? As

said, 440 ,000 people here. It's been really well -supported. The crowd have

turned out importantly.

Yeah, it's amazing, all the people here watching. You don't really think about

it when you're driving, but afterwards it's really nice to think everyone was

watching the performance.

Jessica, you said before the start there that you felt more comfortable in race

pace compared to qualifying.

You put it on pole position in a last -ditch attempt in qualifying two days

but you looked so comfortable out in front leading that race today. It was

you'd won a thousand races before.

How did it feel from inside the car, seeing all the action behind you and the

pressure that was on your shoulders?

Yeah, I was trying not to look in my mirrors too much, just in case I made

mistakes, but it was just trying to put as many qualifying laps together as I

could. to keep out in the lead.

Jess, it's not only your first F1 Academy win, but you just said to me

this is your first win in cars. And after all, F1 Academy is a development

platform for young girls. So how would you say your progression has been

throughout the season? You mean you're very optimistic? You said to me next

you want to be top three?

Yeah, I think my progression has been quite big this year from where I started

at the start of the year. I can't thank Carlin enough for all the help they've

given me this year to get me to where I am now.

Are you getting any advice from your family? Because I hear you've got some

family who are in the business as well.

Yeah, all my family help and support me and give me advice every weekend.

I heard you saying, Jess, that you spent some time in the Carlin simulator.

What kind of things were you going through in the sim?

Open up in that secretive world.

Yeah, on the sim, we were kind of just doing qualifying sims because that was

the bit I struggled with most. The whole year I've been all right in races, so

that was what we've been working hard on in the last month.

But what aspect of it? What aspect of qualifying?

Is it the tyre warm -up?

What part?

Just trying to get a lap in early on in case there's red flags or you only get

four laps anyways.

Can I just ask you about the camaraderie within the paddock? Obviously, 15 girls

between 16 and 25 years of age, many of whom raced against Naomi in W Series,

some more experienced than others.

Are they generous with their advice? Do you all talk? Are you all great friends?

This is quite something to be part of, I should imagine.

Yeah, we all get on well. We're all friendly. We don't usually give advice

each other, but we all get on well.

We're all friendly. That's drivers for you. Well done, Jessica. I have one

question to ask Simon, though. Go. One question.

We know that 10 teams are going to be involved in F1 Academy next year. Do you

already know which team you're going to be with, or do you have a preference?

I don't really have a preference and I don't know at the minute either.

Well, we'll keep our fingers crossed. No, not giving anything away, but go and

enjoy that. We know you will. Thank you. Take that home to the family.

Appreciate it, Jessica. Thank you. Let's bring in the champion and also the rare

Marty. Come on in, ladies. Yeah, fantastic effort.

Second and third. Yeah, come on in.

Yeah, the two Spaniards just pipped to the post by Jessica.

I have to say, though, she waited for her first win and thoroughly deserved it

today. Yeah, I think so.

I said, well done, you deserve it at the end of the day. I think she did a good

job during all this week.

She's really young. I think she has a bright future.

You were able to put a little bit of pressure on Nerea there right at the

saw, down into turn 12.

Was there any hope apart from that during the race?

I mean, there was hope in the end of the race.

She was struggling a bit, but also my team was telling me, like, no risk.

We obviously wanted to get a team championship, so just in case, no

having any crash or anything.

Nerea, you reacted very quickly off the line there. I think there was a bit of

debate whether it was too early or not, but you had a great opening stint, and

then you seem to have made a little mistake.

cost you. How was it in the car?

Yes, that was really good. I used a different P3 and I managed to put P2 in

first corner.

And yeah, the race was a bit difficult because we didn't have a good pace at

end. Marta was faster at the end, so it was a bit difficult to manage the end of

the race. It looked like the rear of the car was getting away from you a bit. I

saw in the S's on the last lap a big oversteer moment, which you collected

brilliantly. But what can you do with these cars in terms of setup? Is there

anything you can... change to to kind of stop that from from being an issue in

the future yeah we were working a lot with the team about the the car we can

change a lot of things but yeah just we have a bit of obviously at the end of

the race that was enough to to lose the car a bit on the 45 to 60

According to me, in a high speed.

Quick word on the teams. You've won that as well. It's a double for you.

Marta, what does that mean to you?

Yeah, I mean, it's great.

Obviously, we won yesterday, you know. So happy. But also, you know, the team

boss, which is here, he was like, OK, we need to win now the team's

championship, you know.

And I just wanted to do the best out of it. I think that's all we could do,

honestly. And I think my teammates was P8, also Chloe and Bianca. I don't know

really what happened, but I think we did a good job. And obviously, thanks to

Prema for it. everything they've done this year. Well, Marta, we know,

unfortunately, you can't come back next year, although it seems there'll be some

support from F1 Academy to give you, you know, some push towards, you know,

other racing series.

But Nerea, do you already know if you're going to be on the grid next year? Is

this where you want to be next year?

We don't know yet, but obviously we are pushing to do another year in F1

Academy. I think it will be a good opportunity to stay there all the

with F1, and I think it will be a great opportunity to do again this time this

year. Do you know where you're going to be next year, or when can it be?

Not really, not yet. I think we might know something probably in the next

maybe earlier, maybe later. I don't know yet. Let's see.

Congratulations, ladies. We'll let you go and enjoy that. Can you celebrate

tonight? Are you going home? Yeah, right.

He's always thinking of the party. Trust me, I know these two girls. They will

be celebrating tonight.

Well, enjoy it. You've deserved it. It's great to finish the season with the

podium, and you've both done that. And congratulations on a flying championship

performance, Marta.

Really good stuff.

We'll let them go and enjoy that. But, yeah, I mean, you've got to take your

hats off, haven't you, to Marta? You said you raced against her, you know,

strength. And it looks like they get the backing, don't they? don't they, from

the F1 Academy as they move on to greener pastures if you've won this?

Yeah, it's going to be... I mean, I think for Marta, it's slightly

because obviously it's been a fantastic season for her, but because it's not

been broadcast live this season, you also don't have the 10 teams which are

coming in next year. So I think for her, it's slightly unfortunate that she

can't benefit from all of that next year as well. But, you know, I get it. It's

a feeder series.

You need to make space for new talent to come through.

Nerea Marti, on the other hand, is also an extremely talented driver, and I

actually expected a little bit more from her this season because, you know, what

we saw... from her NW series with a lot of very quick performances, very strong

drivers. So I still think there's a lot of future talent to be watched for next

season. As Danica was saying, this should be used as the stepping stone.

It shouldn't be seen as the final destination for these drivers because

are so many other series, as you were saying, that they'll want to get into.

Absolutely. This series, and we can't lose sight of the fact, this is waving

flag for, look, this is...

raise attention and awareness for younger female carters out there or even

that are interested in racing don't know where to go you know you can look to

this as a stepping stone as also a way that you can get into racing as a female

it can be done look at this fantastic racing we had here today for these

uh in this in this unique category and use it as aspiration inspiration

as well and uh pester your parents get in a go -kart you can be here on the

having all this fun like these girls were today and use that to progress one

hopefully into formula one is that what you both did pester pester pester is

that the way to do it absolutely but i think besides even pestering your

i think it's important for parents to be watching f1 academy because even some

some households still don't recognize that this is a sport that women can

compete in as well so of course pester your parents pester everyone you can get

what you want go after your dream so yeah absolutely Okay, let's have a look

some of the key moments out on track there, as we said, and we're going to

it. We've seen it so often in the Formula One, and what we did last year,

Sainz punted off by George Russell. That was the start of a clean one for

Jessica.

Yeah, it was. I mean, she had to hold on to that lead into turn one. And she did

it brilliantly well because she knew that Garcia was going to be a serious

threat in this race. And that's the moment where Marti got in front of

And I think at that moment, although she had a great start, did Nerea Marti, she

didn't quite have the same speed as Garcia long term in the race. And that

helped Edgar in many ways. But brilliant race by Jeff.

I mean, it's a good track for them to race on this one. I mean, as we're

it's got a mixture of corners.

Do you think it's one of Tilka's best tracks?

Honestly, it's a track I've never raced on, but I've done loads of laps on the

simulator, and it's a track that if tomorrow you said to me, you've got a

which track you want to drive on, this is one that I really want to try.

I think for these young drivers, it's also great when you have that much room

for error.

You know, there's a lot of run -up on this track, and sometimes when you're

learning, when you're developing yourself, it's better to have a little

space to try things, to push the limits, test the boundaries.

Actually, it wasn't only Herman Tilker that designed it. He was part of a

committee. I think, actually, Alex Virts was one of the drivers that got

involved. He's into circuit design as well, particularly on the first part of

the track, the first sector, that brilliant ethic.

And sometimes it takes a driver, the knowledge we have from inside the car,

go, no, these are cool corners. Stuff like this, the slalom section,

to skiing. It feels good inside the car. It's not an overtaking spot, but it's

somewhere where you really need to carry speed. And, yeah, it's a fun element.

The thing I don't like about this circuit? Yeah. The thing I don't like

this circuit are the track limits. It's not necessarily all down to the drivers.

Change the track. Yeah. Bring some gravel in, please, because I don't like

seeing cars race off track. Yeah, a facility built by the same company that

actually built the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, some great American football

stadiums. And it is one to come to, as we said. It's got 440 ,000 people here

this weekend. It always gets a fabulous turnout. Right, let's head to Ted. Where

are you, Ted?

Thank you very much, Simon. I'm down in the F1 Academy paddock where we are

celebrating, if that's the right word, with René Rossin, who, as any motorsport

fan will know, is the boss of Premier. Premier, one of the champion teams today

in F1 Academy and champion teams throughout motorsport, junior

Was it tight, René, going in? It was a fixed point going into this race. Did

think you had it all under control all the way? For sure, it's been quite a

tight championship, especially for the team ranking.

We achieved, we arrived. Here in Austin, we were nearly 28 points behind. We

managed to win the championship thanks to our drivers.

Everybody did an amazing job, and I'm really proud of all of them.

Marta, yesterday, celebrated winning the championship, which is a great result

for her, and we're looking forward to a great future of the championship.

Tell us about Marta's qualities and the consistency she's shown this year.

For sure, she demonstrates to be really consistent, doing very little mistakes.

and really well prepared and that is also very important in junior formula.

And tell us about the championship itself, René. Obviously, we see you week

week out in Formula 2 and Formula 3, et cetera, et cetera. I think they're just

trying to move the car around here. Marta's car is just coming up. We'll let

them go to park.

We're not getting in the way of all of that.

How much of an effort has it been to get this all up and running with three cars

and then carry on? That for sure has been quite a big amount of work,

at the beginning, because the championship started.

quite late let's say at the beginning of the year we were being selected to run

these three cars so we started with a new group that we need to start making

working together as you know in a team the most important is the people working

well together together with drivers engineers and so on so it's been a great

work from everybody from all the single mechanics, the engineers.

But at the end, we arrived here in Austin with the final race together with

Formula One on a great success and a great result.

Okay, well, listen, congratulations.

It's yet another championship win for the Prema squad.

Yes, absolutely.

It's been quite a good day. Even today, we celebrated the team championship on

the Formula Regional after having celebrated last weekend with Kimi

the title on Drivers' Championship. So it's a very good day today for Prema.

Indeed, yes. Kimi Antonelli, of course, another bright light under the... Prema

Band, a Mercedes young driver who's destined for greater things later down

line.

Rene, thank you very much for your time. Congratulations.

Simon, back to you. He's absolutely one to watch. We talked to Susie about this

yesterday. It's about having the backing of these five very established F2

teams. Absolutely.

And look, Prema is a state -of -the -art team. It's one of the teams that, as a

young carter, as a young driver, you hope to be able to be a part of. And,

know, the fact that they can work with these types of teams in this type of

championship, I mean, again, the... goal is not for them to stay in F1 academies

for them to climb the ranks hopefully get into F3 F2 or whatever the pathway

that they want to do and to have the knowledge of these teams of what it

they know the drivers that come through F3 F2 and make it so they they can

really be giving them great advice to know what position to put them in what

focus on to get them to where they want to go so fabulous on track battles

Anthony's made his way to the skypad to do some further analysis

yeah indeed simon so uh yes we're going to look at uh marty here and the uh the

red light song there was uh some debate like we said i wondered why she looked

at us quizzically when we when we put that to her but uh if i roll this on and

just draw another line here as well just for a reference to see where her car is

does she move uh before the lights go out so still on red oh hold on i'll just

undo that one still on red and yeah just So let's see if there's any movement.

I'll get the red lights there. Sorry, this is quite hard to navigate.

And the white line is not a great reference. So if I just roll that on,

move before the red lights go out? I don't see it. So apologies, Nerea. You

didn't jump the star. I called it wrong at the time. And that's why she looked a

little bit miffed when we put that to her. But a great start nevertheless.

And round the outside, cutting back on the inside of Garcia.

to get her on the exit of that corner as everyone starts running wide.

We then, later on, we saw a crash between Lovenfoss and Bustamante. Now,

reason for this is clearly, look, Lovenfoss driving off the circuit.

Bustamante's got the inside, as she thinks, got the inside covered, but

off of the circuit was the result of this incident here in turn 15. So, you

know... We expect that F1 drivers, of course, don't do stuff like that. And

you'd be having lots of penalties.

And, you know, we'd be throwing the book at them if we saw this kind of thing.

But these are young drivers, let's not forget. And they're learning. So a

learned there for both of these drivers, but mainly for Lovin Vos. She did

actually get a five -second penalty after that one.

We then saw, as well, some great racing here off track. Being pushed off circuit

here was Jilks, and the car bouncing awkwardly and aggressively with Caceres,

the fight down towards Turn 12.

That fight continued off the circuit again, but the next lap around, we saw,

again, down towards Turn 1, the fight continued, and this was an interesting

one. So Jilks puts it down the inside.

doesn't lock up but i think at this point here it was unnecessary to carry

much speed and there's so much distance between the two cars if you're making a

move like that It's better to be closer to the car that you're racing against

because what you're allowing that car to do is cross over the line on the exit

and come back at you heading down the hill. And that's exactly how that one

played out. So, yeah, it's interesting in many ways to watch drivers that are

less experienced. Some of them, you know, this is their first season in car

racing. So we're used to the quality of Formula One drivers, you know, these

honed professionals.

And we expect that kind of quality from them. And it's interesting to see.

the things we've learned as drivers and as pundits over the time in watching

Formula One and put that into practice.

in analysing a feeder series like this one. Back to you, Tom.

Actually, there's something really refreshing about watching the rawness of

all, but further evidence there of the bouncing and the bumps on this track

we might see later.

Yeah, that didn't look like it would have been good for Megan Gilk's back.

You don't ever want to be flying, but as you say, it's refreshing to see them

pushing the limits, really trying to find ways around.

You could see Lola Lovenfoss, that moment that happened there between her

Bianca Bustamante.

Almost inevitable.

It had been building for so many laps that they were trying to get past each

other. And, you know, I think there was a bit of frustration from Lola's side

and, you know, trying too hard to get past. But as Anne very well put there,

these are young drivers who are learning. This is how you learn. You

your mistakes.

And, yeah, it was exciting racing out there. How do you sum it up then, this

inaugural season of F1 Academy, Naomi? Obviously, it's back on seven F1

next year. There's going to be even more eyeballs on them.

Yeah, look, I think these kinds of initiatives are doing great things for

just female drivers in the sport, but for women in the sport as a whole.

There's obviously a huge ecosystem of women in the paddock that are also being

inspired by these types of things. And I can't say enough how great it is. And

obviously, we don't want females in the sport to be segregated from racing

against men. That's what we ultimately want to see them doing. But to give them

this kind of platform, especially next year with seven races in front of F1

teams, that's just going to be fantastic to further their careers.

Thanks, Naomi. Appreciate your company all weekend. So there we go. We'll be

back. from 6 .30 with lights out for the F1 race at 8 o 'clock this evening. But

the inaugural series of F1 Academy is at an end and it is Marta Garcia who is

the first ever champion. From us all here, bye for now.