Four of seven rounds of the inaugural F1 Academy season are in the books, and the pressure is on for teams and drivers to deliver strong performances across the final nine races of the season. As the all-female championship gears up for the next round in Monza, Megan Gilkes, Lola Lovinfosse and Amna Al Qubaisi spoke to Feeder Series and selected media about the season so far.

By Nida Anis

All eyes are on the battle for the championship as Marta García heads into the Monza weekend with a five-point lead over Hamda Al Qubaisi, with Sauber Academy driver Léna Bühler catching up to both title protagonists in the standings.

The high-speed Autodromo Nazionale Monza this weekend promises to be an exciting challenge for the 15-strong F1 Academy grid, who have varying levels of experience around this track.

Hamda Al Qubaisi, Amna Al Qubaisi, Bühler and Carrie Schreiner have previously raced at Monza. Others like Bianca Bustamante and Chloe Chong have tested there earlier this year, and for others still, this weekend will mark their first time on track at the ‘Temple of Speed’.

Feeder Series and selected media attended a press conference ahead of the fifth round of F1 Academy, in which Megan Gilkes, Lola Lovinfosse and Amna Al Qubaisi shared their thoughts about the season so far, the race weekend ahead, and increasing female participation in motorsport.

A learning curve

Having each competed extensively in single-seaters prior to joining of F1 Academy, all three drivers had high expectations going into the championship. However, transitioning to a new series has posed several challenges.

“I would say so far it’s just a learning curve,” Al Qubaisi said. The Emirati driver is currently sixth in the championship standings, five points ahead of MP Motorsport teammate Emely de Heus and six points behind Alpine Academy driver Abbi Pulling.

“I haven’t been driving for a very long time, but being able to jump back into the car and doing really well, I would give myself a pat on the back.”

Al Qubaisi expanded on the differences between the F1 Academy car – a Tatuus F4-T421 with modified aerodynamics – and the Tatuus F4-T014 machinery she had driven previously in Italian F4 in 2018 and 2019.

“The F1 Academy car has a larger front wing and rear wing, so more downforce. In terms of fast corners, we would struggle with understeer, but in slow corners the car would handle these really well. Tyre degradation is a big factor.”

Lovinfosse shared similar thoughts to Al Qubaisi on the challenges of adapting to a new series. “Of course I had a lot to learn, get used to such a proficient team like Campos and also to the new car as it was not exactly the same car as Spanish F4,” she said.

“I was quite happy after the Red Bull Ring, obviously the first podium we had. We had some issues [in Barcelona and Valencia], which compromised both of the weekends, but we’ve seen some really good things.”

Competing with Rodin Carlin, Gilkes entered the championship with strong expectations. However, she currently sits in 13th in the drivers’ championship, ahead of Chong and Maite Cáceres.

“I started the championship hoping to be a lot higher in the championship and in individual results,” she said, adding that Rodin Carlin were working with her to help her progress in the standings.

One thing Gilkes has on her side is her background in engineering. The Canadian driver is currently studying for a degree in aeronautical engineering at Imperial College London and is undertaking an industrial placement year with Aston Martin F1.

“[Racing and engineering are] a huge complement to each other. It’s a great background being a racing driver to lead into engineering. I’ve got the technical knowledge from the engineering that I can apply to my driving, and I can give some tailored feedback to the engineers at Rodin Carlin.”

Eyes on the prize

All three drivers looked ahead to the Monza race weekend with enthusiasm. “This weekend for sure, it’s to find no excuses and to start being at the top of the grid,” Al Qubaisi said.

“Podiums for sure, try to beat my sister – of course, that’s the goal as well! My sister’s trying to win [the championship], so it’s all trying to help each other at the moment.”

Lovinfosse said she was aiming for a consistent performance across the weekend. “We were expecting quite a lot from this weekend obviously. To put everything together – a good quali, starting from the front, not making any mistakes.”

Gilkes reflected on the impact that F1 Academy has had on her own career as well as those of her fellow drivers on the grid.  “The F1 Academy has been a fantastic experience for myself and for every girl on the grid this year,” she said.

“I could not have done a full season at F4 racing at this level of competition and this level of professionalism that F1 Academy are offering without the support that F1, the FIA, and F1 Academy are offering.

“Looking forward to moving up on the grid for the last couple of rounds!”

Inspiring women in motorsport

With the recent release of More than Equal’s ‘Inside Track’ report into female participation in motorsport, the three F1 Academy drivers reflected on the championship’s role in supporting women in what has traditionally been a male-dominated environment.

“F1 Academy’s a really good step for female drivers, taking testing [at] various tracks around the world, but also the exposure that we get as female drivers and the opportunity we get to inspire other girls.

“We have female race engineers and female mechanics that have a voice. The exposure is not only to promote us female racing drivers but also to promote the world around us.”

Lovinfosse echoed Al Qubaisi’s thoughts. “F1 Academy’s a great opportunity for young women like us to get closer to F1. The championship is quite interesting as we get a lot of track time.

“The F1 Academy’s managed by Susie [Wolff],” Lovinfosse continued, referencing the former Williams F1 test driver and Venturi Formula E team principal. “She’s really involved in this championship and I think it’s a good opportunity for us.”

Gilkes said, “A lot has been done in recent years to promote females in motorsport and in male-dominated industries in general. F1 Academy provides a fantastic opportunity for young girls to see a championship that they can compete in the future and work towards that.”

Header photo credit: Carlin Racing / Jakob Ebrey Photography