Las Vegas Set to Deliver a High-Stakes F1 Academy Showdown
Alright, let me break this down for you in a smooth, natural way, just as if we’re talking through the biggest storyline in the F1 Academy world right now. And honestly, this one has everything — rising stars, a title fight going right down to the wire, and a young American wildcard stepping onto one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
So, the excitement begins with Payton Westcott, a 16-year-old American driver who has been handed a dream opportunity: making her F1 Academy debut right at the season finale on the Las Vegas Strip. And yes — she’ll be driving the #15 Visit Las Vegas car, which feels incredibly fitting. What makes her rise even more impressive is how quickly it has all happened. She only started competitive karting three years ago, yet wins, podiums, and poles have been piling up ever since.
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In 2024, her jump into European karting showcased just how rapidly she was progressing. She became part of the Champions of the Future Academy Program, supported by F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive initiative, and that experience opened the door to single-seaters this season. Across the Formula Winter Series, Euro4, and Italian F4, her speed was noticed immediately, with class wins and podiums confirming that she’s a serious talent. Her performance in the inaugural Rookie Test — where she set the fastest time in the afternoon — only reinforced that message.
But while Westcott’s debut is a great storyline on its own, the bigger drama is the 2025 F1 Academy title fight — a showdown that has been building all year and will now be settled in Las Vegas. Doriane Pin and Maya Weug have pushed each other relentlessly since the very first race in Shanghai, and now only nine points separate them.
Pin, backed by Mercedes, has been the definition of consistency. She hasn’t missed scoring points in any race throughout her Academy career, and despite facing challenges like missing out on pole positions this season, she still arrives in Vegas as the championship leader. Her calm confidence is striking — her whole mindset is about doing exactly what she always does: staying fast, staying focused, and letting the results follow.
On the other side, Weug — the Ferrari junior — is carrying huge momentum. Her comeback from a technical disaster in Montreal has been remarkable. Wins in Jeddah, Zandvoort, and Singapore have pushed her right back into contention, and she’s entering this finale with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Her determination is obvious: keep the pressure on, go for the win, and let the points take care of themselves.
By the time the lights go out in Las Vegas, both drivers will be standing on the edge of history. One will walk away as champion. The other will walk away knowing she pushed the battle to the very last lap. And with Payton Westcott stepping into her biggest moment yet, the weekend is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and exciting finales the series has seen.
A title fight, a wildcard debut, and the Vegas Strip under the floodlights — it doesn’t get more dramatic than that.
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