Maya Weug reveals "toughest year" as racing future hangs in the balance
Maya Weugâs racing seat setback
Maya Weug has described 2026 as the âtoughest yearâ of her career, revealing that she currently has no races confirmed after struggling to secure a full-time seat just 12 months after challenging for the F1 Academy title.
The Ferrari-supported driver finished runner-up to Doriane Pin in the 2025 championship, recording three victories and nine podiums. While the series champion received a fully funded race seat in another single-seater championship, Weug was instead given the opportunity to test a Ferrari 296 GT3 with AF Corse, funded through F1 Academy.
Her competitive prospects for the following season then unravelled shortly before it began. Weug said a planned programme collapsed for reasons beyond her control, leaving too little time to arrange an alternative.
âI donât really know how to write this one. Iâve been trying to show you the positives all season, but the truth is this has been the toughest year of my career by far,â she wrote on social media.
âOne year ago I was fighting for a championship, taking wins and standing on the podium almost every weekend. I never thought that not even a year later Iâd be in this position.â
Three races, then another disappointment
Weug did manage three races in Belcar with ART Racing, an opportunity for which she said she was grateful. The campaign began positively, with a podium on her debut in a GT car, but the 24 Hours of Zolder entry she had expected to contest is no longer happening.
That has left her without a race on the immediate horizon. The uncertainty reflects how quickly a promising junior single-seater pathway can change, even after a season of strong results. The wider endurance-racing picture remains competitive, as reflected in the tight 2026 WEC title fight.
Staying involved while pursuing a return
Weug has refused to step away from the paddock. She has worked trackside as a coach for Alba Larsen and others, while also spending time with engineers. Larsen is currently backed by Ferrari in F1 Academy.
The work has expanded Weugâs experience, but it has not changed her priority.
âBut I donât want to watch. I want to race. I want to be back on track at the highest level and show what Iâm actually capable of,â she said.
Weug added that motorsport is a tough environment and admitted she expected her results over recent years to count for more. Nevertheless, she remains determined to return and has issued a direct appeal to teams, partners and anyone who may help reopen her route to competition.
âIâll be back on track,â she concluded.
Ciara Gillan
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producerâs brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastriâs rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!