Mercedes junior Doriane Pin has taken pole position for both F1 Academy races in Saudi Arabia; watch Race 1 in Jeddah at 11.55am on Friday with Race 2 at 12pm on Saturday - both live on Sky Sports F1
Thursday 7 March 2024 19:27, UK
Doriane Pin took the first pole position of the new F1 Academy season with a stunning lap in Saudi Arabia.
The Mercedes junior was 0.785s quicker than Britain's Abbi Pulling, with Ferrari junior Maya Weug in third at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
New for F1 Academy is the fastest lap from each driver will determine the grid for Race 1, with the second fastest lap setting the grid for Race 2.
Pin also took pole for the second race as she set two strong laps in the 30-minute qualifying and will be favourite to win both races, which are live on Sky Sports F1 at 11.55am on Friday and 12pm on Saturday.
There has been plenty of excitement around the 20-year-old after she won a race at the United Arab Emirates Formula 4 series last month.
F1 teams have given increased support to F1 Academy with the liveries of each constructor on 10 of the 15 full-time cars.
Increasing female involvement in all areas of motor racing, both on and off track, is a major goal of F1 and the governing body of world motorsport, the FIA.
There will be a new F1 Academy champion as 2023 and inaugural winner Garcia has moved to Formula Regional along with runner-up Lena Buhler.
F1 Academy is exclusively taking place at Formula 1 weekends this season with seven rounds, starting in Jeddah this week.
Miami follows on May 3-5 before two European races on the weekends of the Spanish Grand Prix (June 21-23) and Dutch Grand Prix (August 23-25).
The tricky streets of Singapore is next on September 20-22 before back-to-back weekends in Qatar (November 29 to December 1) and the finale in Abu Dhabi (December 6-8).
Friday March 8
Saturday March 9
Watch the second round of the new F1 season - the Saudi Arabian GP - live on Sky Sports F1 this week, with qualifying on Friday and the race at 5pm on Saturday. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership for just £21 a month for 12 months
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