During the opening practice session of the F1 Academy at Miami International Autodrome, Mercedes Junior Doriane Pin set the pace, clocking the fastest lap at 1:59.949s.
Her performance distinguished her as the only driver to break the two-minute mark in a session marked by close competition and focused driving.
This lengthened practice session, the most extensive so far in the 2024 F1 Academy season, provided the drivers ample time to adjust to their Formula 4 cars after a comprehensive two-day in-season testing period.
Championship frontrunner Abbi Pulling of Alpine Junior initially led with a time of 2:02.745s, but Pin’s continuous improvements throughout the session eventually earned her the top spot.
The session was tightly regulated, with numerous drivers having their laps nullified for surpassing track limits at Turn 5.
On the operational front, there were notable challenges: Williams Junior Lia Block triggered a yellow flag with a quick spin at Turn 8 but recovered quickly without incident.
Similarly, Haas Junior Chloe Chambers struggled with oversteer at Turn 14, a challenge compounded by cold tyres, while Jessica Edgar had a momentary loss of control at Turn 8, forcing her to return to the pits for adjustments.
As the session unfolded, the rivalry among the top contenders intensified.
McLaren Development Driver Bianca Bustamente and Tommy Hilfiger-backed Nerea Marti consistently posted strong times, keeping the pressure on Pin.
In the closing minutes, less than three-tenths of a second separated the top three drivers, underscoring the session’s competitive edge and the fine margins defining the leaders.
The session also spotlighted American drivers like Chambers and Lia Block, who aimed to leverage their familiarity with the local track to improve their standings, looking to capitalise on the upcoming practice session after the Formula 1 cars had their turn on the track.
By the end of the session, it was Pin who secured the fastest time, narrowly ahead of Pulling by just 0.070 seconds. Bustamente completed the top three, highlighting the competition expected for the rest of the weekend.
