The streets of Jeddah delivered everything we’ve come to expect from the F1 Academy: Fierce wheel-to-wheel battles, emotional maiden victories, and a few bruised egos. From Maya Weug’s relentless charge to victory to some high-profile stumbles further down the grid, the Saudi Arabian GP shook up the standings and momentum across the paddock.
Here are the four biggest winners and losers from an unforgettable F1 Academy weekend under the lights.
Winners
1. Maya Weug – Redemption and relentlessness
After narrowly missing out on the win in Race 1, Ferrari’s Maya Weug returned with a vengeance in Race 2. The Dutch driver didn’t just fight for the win, she took it through sheer willpower, surviving wheel-banging duels and penalties flying around her. This wasn’t just her first victory of the season; it was also Ferrari’s first-ever win at Jeddah and a landmark return to the top step for MP Motorsport. Weug is very much back in the title conversation.
2. Ella Lloyd – From chaos to glory
Lloyd executed the perfect Race 1, snatching the lead at Turn 1 and never looking back, even under a tense Safety Car restart and late-race pressure from Weug. But what makes her weekend more impressive is the recovery in Race 2: after stalling on the grid, she still managed to fight back to P8. Her resilience and raw pace send a clear message: McLaren have a serious F1 Academy contender on their hands.
3. Chloe Chambers – A statement weekend
Chambers’ name was everywhere in Jeddah. First pole position? Check. Race lead? Check. Hard racing? Absolutely. Even after a five-second penalty in Race 2 for forcing Weug off, she limited the damage with blistering pace and still secured P2. Chambers is proving that she belongs in the front-running pack and that her early season flashes of pace are now backed up with composure and consistency.
4. Alisha Palmowski – Rookie on the rise
Palmowski may have flown slightly under the radar, but her double top-4 finishes and a podium in Race 1 mark her as one of the weekend’s standout performers. She’s the highest-placed rookie in qualifying and raced with maturity well beyond her experience. Campos Racing already knew they had a good one — now everyone else does, too.
Losers
1. Lia Block – Two rounds of frustration
The American’s momentum has stalled badly. After missing qualifying in Shanghai, she crashed in the Saudi Arabian qualifying and then got spun in Race 1 after contact with Crone. She did manage to rejoin, but with no pace and no points, this weekend was another step backwards. The pressure is mounting for a driver with strong backing and big expectations.
2. Emma Felbermayr – From pole to pain
It all started so well: reverse grid pole in Race 1, decent pace early on. But the Austrian driver faded quickly, losing positions and ultimately getting spun out in Race 2 after being tagged by Ferreira. She finished a distant P17. Jeddah could’ve been a breakout weekend. Instead, it was a missed opportunity and a blow in the intra-team Rodin battle.
3. Rafaela Ferreira – Costly mistake, heavy price
Ferreira’s Race 2 was defined by a clumsy incident that saw her spin Felbermayr and receive a 10-second penalty. That one move ruined both drivers’ races and cost her her chance at points. It was a tough moment during a weekend where she never quite looked settled, and it may take some rebuilding of confidence and rhythm as we advance.
4. Courtney Crone – A weekend to forget
Crone’s impact on the weekend was quite literal – tagging Lia Block in Race 1 and earning a 10-second penalty, then retiring soon after. With little to show for her efforts in qualifying or either race, she walks away from Jeddah with zero points and two incidents to her name. There’s work to do to rebuild both pace and reputation in the coming rounds.
With the championship heating up, these highs and lows in Jeddah could be defining moments in the season. Some drivers leave with momentum and silverware, others with challenging questions.
One thing’s for sure: the road to the F1 Academy title is only getting more intense.
