The 2025 F1 Academy season resumed in Montreal for a high-pressure round which at the iconic Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. With three races on the schedule, two from the regular round and one rescheduled from Miami, MP Motorsport’s trio of Maya Weug, Alba Hurup, and Joanne Ciconte tackled varying challenges alongside the team to maximize the weekend. From mechanical setbacks to comeback drives, the team pushed at every opportunity and secured a valuable set of points to stay in contention for both championships.
Practice
Montreal’s single free practice session offered a first look at grip levels and racing lines on the Canadian street circuit. Maya Weug suffered a major setback with an electronic issue in her engine that kept her in the pit lane for most of the session. The team worked relentlessly, but she couldn’t complete a proper lap giving the bizarre nature of the problem with her car. In contrast, Alba Hurup looked immediately comfortable driving the track for the first time and set the third-fastest time of the session. Joanne Ciconte, racing in her newly revealed scarlet red Wella colors, finished P15 after a cautious but constructive run.
Final Results:
Qualifying
Held later on Friday in rising temperatures and different grip levels, qualifying offered only 30 minutes of track time on a quickly evolving surface. Joanne Ciconte delivered a much-improved session, adapting well to the circuit and securing P11—her second-best qualifying result of the season so far. Alba Hurup followed closely in P12 after not being able to replicate her practice pace, while Maya Weug, still hampered by ongoing electronic issues, settled for P15 .
Final Results:
Race 1 (Rescheduled Miami Race)
Saturday rolled in and it was time for Race 1, the rescheduled race from the rain-affected Miami round. Unfortunately, Maya’s mechanical issues persisted despite the team’s relentless efforts—including collaboration with the championship’s technical staff to diagnose the recurring fault. After multiple attempts to resolve the problem and get her back on track, Maya was ultimately forced to retire. Joanne also retired early following contact in the midfield on lap 4. That left Alba as MP’s sole finisher, putting in a composed and consistent drive. Despite losing ground at the start, she showed strong pace to recover and finish P6, earning valuable points for the team.
Race 1 Results:
Race 2 (Reverse Grid)
A reverse-grid (Top 8) sprint race brought another opportunity for points. Alba climbed into P5, pulling a brave overtake into T14 holding her position amid strong pressure from behind. Once again proving the skills and prospect that Alba brings to the table with masterful defending. Maya’s car finally got a solution and despite a poor starting position, our Ferrari driver went to work chipping off competitors throughout the incident filled session and ultimately crossing the line in P9, unfortunately just outside the points. Joanne struggled to move forward from P15 given how tight the pack was and the dirty air generated by the distance of the cars, she finished outside the points.
Race 2 Results:
Race 3 (Feature Race)
With Maya’s car issues resolved, the team entered the Feature Race with renewed hope. The final session was chaotic with multiple safety car periods, reshuffling the grid and creating overtaking chances. Maya made the most of it, charging through the field to finish P6. Alba followed closely in P8 after defending her position brilliantly. Joanne seized the opportunity as well, climbing to P9—securing her second points finish of the season.
Race 3 Results:
Looking Ahead
Despite mechanical setbacks that were out of the team’s control, MP Motorsport leaves Montreal with all three drivers having scored points and limiting the damages of points lost throughout the weekend. With Maya’s car issues resolved and Alba’s consistency and performance shining through, the team is well-positioned heading into the next round. The focus now turns to Zandvoort, our home race, where we aim to build an upward momentum and challenge for more silverware as we fight for the Teams and Drivers Championships
Driver Standings After Round 4:
Team Standings:
