How does it feel to chase the F1 Academy championship? In Las Vegas, Maya Weug prepared herself with guidance from Ferrari stars Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The Dutch-Belgian driver could bring the title to Maranello this weekend, needing to recover just nine points from her main rival, Doriane Pin, a protégé of Mercedes.
The scenario echoes last year, when the two drivers went head-to-head until the final race for second place in the standings — the championship itself having already been decisively won by former British Alpine driver, Abbi Pulling.
Las Vegas will be crucial: Maya Weug has both Race 1 and Race 2 to regain ground and fight for the title. In an interview with Daniele Sparisci for the Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, the young driver revealed she had sought advice from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on how to approach the season finale.
Maya Weug has a closer relationship with Charles Leclerc, knowing him since her early days in the Ferrari Driver Academy. “When we’re on the same track, it’s important to see how they work, there’s always something to learn. I also pay attention to their impressions and feedback, especially on tracks that are new to me, like Jeddah in Saudi Arabia,” she explained.
For Las Vegas, Maya Weug trained extensively and spent time in the simulator, though she noted, “In reality, many things are different because it’s a street circuit. The bumps and uneven asphalt, for example. Charles and Lewis know the track well, having driven it in F1 for the past two years. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of questions for them this weekend as well.”
Half Belgian, half Dutch, Maya Weug joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2021, becoming the first female driver in the Scuderia. But when will we see a woman in Formula 1?
“I’m sure it will happen, I have no doubts,” she said, according to Corriere della Sera. “There has already been a huge change since I started in karting. When I return to training, I see many young girls; in my time I was often the only one, or at most 2–3. Now the numbers have grown and will continue to grow. It’s only a matter of time before we see a woman in F1. When exactly? I don’t know, maybe in a couple of years.”
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