Ferrari Academy driver Maya Weug is actively looking for a new racing opportunity after revealing that she currently has no races scheduled, despite finishing runner-up in the 2025 F1 Academy championship. The 22-year-old has described 2026 as the toughest year of her career and has issued a direct invitation to teams, partners and anyone able to help her return to competitive action.
For a driver who was fighting for an F1 Academy title only a year ago, the contrast is striking. Maya Weug finished third in the 2024 championship with Prema Racing before taking another step forward and ending the 2025 season as runner-up with MP Motorsport. Yet instead of that progress immediately opening the next stage of her career, her current programme has become unexpectedly quiet.
Maya Weug reveals how her 2026 racing plans collapsed
Maya Weug explained that she had deliberately focused on showing the positive side of her season publicly, but admitted that the reality behind the scenes had been far more difficult.
“I don’t really know how to write this one. I’ve been showing you the positives all season, but the truth is this has been the toughest year of my career by far,” she wrote.
The Ferrari Academy talent pointed to the dramatic change from 12 months earlier, when victories, podiums and a championship battle were part of her regular racing programme.
“A year ago I was fighting for a championship, taking wins and standing on the podium almost every weekend. I never thought that not even a year later I’d be in this position.”
There had been a plan for the new season, but according to Maya Weug it fell apart shortly before the campaign began for reasons outside her control. By that stage, finding an alternative programme had become extremely difficult, particularly when trying to put together racing opportunities independently.
Belcar podium offered a glimpse of what Maya Weug can do
Maya Weug did manage to return to competition with ART Racing in Belcar Endurance, where she secured a podium on her GT debut. It was an encouraging result in a different discipline and another opportunity to add experience beyond the single-seater environment in which much of her recent career had developed.
However, another planned opportunity has now disappeared. Maya Weug confirmed that she will no longer contest the 24 Hours of Zolder, leaving her without another race currently on the calendar.
“I was lucky and grateful to get a few races in Belcar with Art Racing and finished on the podium on my GT debut. But the 24h of Zolder I had coming up isn’t happening anymore either. So right now, I have no races coming up.”
Importantly, the lack of racing has not meant a year away from motorsport. Maya Weug has continued working trackside, coaching and spending time on the engineering side of racing, including debriefs and data analysis. She believes those responsibilities have helped her develop considerably, but they cannot replace what she wants most.
“I’ve learned a huge amount and grown a lot this year. But I don’t want to watch. I want to race, at the highest level, and show what I’m actually capable of.”
A difficult transition after F1 Academy success
Maya Weug’s situation also raises an uncomfortable question about what happens to talented female drivers after they have demonstrated their ability in F1 Academy. The championship can provide visibility, experience and competitive opportunities, but ultimately its most successful drivers need somewhere meaningful to continue their careers.
For Maya Weug, results have not been absent. Third place in 2024 was followed by second in 2025, while her GT debut subsequently produced a podium. Her frustration therefore comes from reaching a point where recent performances have not yet translated into the sustained racing programme she expected.
She acknowledged the realities of the sport herself, writing: “Motorsport is a tough environment. I think I just expected that the results I put together over the past years would have counted for something.”
That sentiment is particularly relevant when discussing the pathway for women in motorsport. Developing drivers is only part of the challenge; creating credible opportunities for them once they are ready to move beyond dedicated junior categories is equally important.
ScuderiaFans stands with Maya Weug – and Ferrari can play an important role
From the ScuderiaFans perspective, Maya Weug deserves the opportunity to continue proving herself on track. Her current position should not be interpreted as evidence that her development has stopped. On the contrary, she has continued learning through coaching, engineering work, debriefs and data while remaining determined to race again.
As a Ferrari Academy driver, her situation also provides an opportunity to consider how the Scuderia can support talented young drivers through difficult transition periods. Ferrari cannot create seats where none exist, and motorsport programmes depend on numerous sporting, financial and organisational factors. However, we hope the Prancing Horse can continue strengthening the pathway available to its academy members and, in particular, help promising female drivers convert development and results into sustainable racing careers.
That would matter not simply for one driver, but for the credibility of the broader route beyond F1 Academy. If talented competitors are encouraged to progress through the system, there must also be serious attention paid to what comes next.
Maya Weug remains determined to return
Despite the disappointment, Maya Weug’s message was not one of resignation. She thanked the people who have continued supporting her through a difficult period and said she is choosing to believe that another opportunity will emerge.
She then made her intentions unmistakable, directly inviting teams, partners and relevant contacts to get in touch before finishing with a clear promise: “I’ll be back on track!💪”
After two strong F1 Academy campaigns and a podium on her GT debut, the next chapter is not yet defined. What is clear is that Maya Weug still wants that chapter to be written behind the wheel rather than from the side of the circuit. ScuderiaFans hopes she gets that opportunity — and that Ferrari can help ensure one of its academy talents has the chance to keep moving forward.
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