F1 ACADEMY champion Doriane Pin gets a podium in ELMS Series
It was a silverware-laden weekend for F1 ACADEMY graduates at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Doriane Pin and LĂ©na BĂŒhler both stepping onto the podium on their respective returns to endurance racing in Europe.
Pin delivers on ELMS return
Making her first European Le Mans Series appearance since 2022, Doriane Pin rejoined the championship in the LMP2 Pro/AM class with Duqueine Team. The weekend started strongly when teammate Giorgio Roda secured pole position for the #30 entry, setting the platform for a competitive run in the 4 Hours of Barcelona.
During the demanding middle phase of the race, the 2025 F1 ACADEMY Champion took control amid a disrupted contest shaped by multiple Safety Car periods. Navigating what became a stop-start rhythm, Pin emerged as the class leader following a Full Course Yellow restart, underlining her composure in challenging conditions.
Handing over driving duties to McLaren junior Richard Verschoor, the crew converted their position into P3 at the flag, sealing their first podium of the season. Pinâs impact was further recognised off-track, with fans voting the 22-year-old as the Goodyear Wingfoot Award winner for outstanding performance in her category.
BĂŒhler back on the podium in Michelin Le Mans Cup
LĂ©na BĂŒhler also enjoyed a successful weekend in Spain, claiming third place in the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Now in her second season competing in LMP3, the Swiss driver continued to demonstrate her racecraft at a circuit that demands consistency and awareness.
Sharing the #86 R-ace GP entry, BĂŒhler delivered a composed opening stint from the front row, holding on to second place through three Safety Car restarts. Although the team slipped back one position in the closing minutes, the podium result marked a promising start to the campaign for the 28-year-old, who had already made history in the series last season.
Strong showings across multiple championships
Elsewhere, Amna Al Qubaisi achieved her first top-10 finish in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, crossing the line ninth in Race 2 at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China.
Meanwhile, Mathilda Paatz, Jade Jacquet, and former F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE karter Ella HĂ€kkinen were in action at the F4 CEZ Championship season opener at the Red Bull Ring. A packed entry list saw qualifying split into two Heats, with drivers then divided into three groups for the opening races. Only the top 32 overall progressed to the final race.
Paatz emerged as the strongest points scorer of the trio, climbing from 10th in her Heat to secure two top-10 finishes. McLaren junior HĂ€kkinen impressed on her single-seater debut, scoring points with a best result of P8 in Race 2, while Jacquet opened her account with a P12 finish in Race 3.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.