F1 Academy Round 2 – Jeddah

Hinwil, 23 April 2025 – KICK Sauber F1 Team driver, Emma Felbermayr, faced a challenging second round of the 2025 F1 Academy season at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, as a promising start to her fifth ever single-seater race turned into a weekend of learnings.

Starting from reverse grid pole in Race 1 after setting the eighth-fastest time in another strong qualifying, Emma was eyeing a potential maiden podium. However, as the lights went out, teammate Ella Lloyd made an assertive move down the inside into Turn 1 to take the lead. Emma initially held on to second place but soon came under pressure and gradually slipped back as the race unfolded – eventually finishing outside the top eight and out of the points.

Race 2 brought more misfortune. Emma’s charge through the field was cut short on Lap 2 when she was hit from behind by Rafaela Ferreira, causing her to spin and drop to 17th place. Although Ferreira was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident, Emma’s race had already been compromised, and she eventually crossed the line in 15th place.

As F1 Academy heads toward Round 3 in Miami next week, Emma remains focused and determined to convert her pace into points, carrying the lessons of Jeddah with her into the next chapter of her campaign.

Emma Felbermayr (car number 5)
KICK Sauber F1 Team operated by Rodin Motorsport
Qualifying: 8th
Race 1: 9th
Race 2: 15th

“This weekend was not what we were hoping for in terms of results, but there definitely are positives to take away. I am growing more confident in the car with every session, and even though the outcomes did not reflect our potential, the pace was there at times. We leave Jeddah with some valuable lessons learned – especially around how I can fine-tune my approach in the early phases of the race and manage key moments under pressure. I am staying focused and motivated – we will keep working hard, and I am confident we will come back stronger in the next round, which is just about ten days away.”