Interview
Ciconte brushing off rookie setbacks as she looks to test herself around ‘rewarding’ Singapore
Joanne Ciconte arrives to the streets of Singapore for the first time looking to turn the tide on a challenging rookie F1 ACADEMY campaign.
Heading into Round 6, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the Wella driver, who has recorded only two points-scoring finishes in the previous 10 races and sits 16th in the Drivers’ Standings. However, she’s galvanised by the prospect of putting on a show in front of her fellow Aussies who’ll be joining her at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
“I’m super excited for Singapore,” began Ciconte. “It’s the closest race to home and knowing that there’s going to be Aussies in the crowd supporting means so much to me.
“Being my rookie season, everything has been a huge learning curve, but heading into the penultimate round makes me want to finish the year strong and make the most out of the experience. After experiencing my first street circuit at Jeddah, I’m really looking forward to feeling that sensation only street circuits can bring.”
Ciconte added: “Zandvoort was definitely a tough one, but that’s part of racing. You take the setbacks, learn from them and move forward. For Singapore, I’m really focused on putting everything together and hopefully fighting for the points.
“I know that it won’t be easy but I feel confident that if I execute well and adapt quickly, we can have a strong weekend.”
READ MORE: SINGAPORE PREVIEW: Talking points ahead of Round 6
Adding to Ciconte’s task is the lack of testing around the 4.94km circuit beforehand, forcing her to rely on her experience in the simulator alongside any feedback her team MP Motorsport team and teammate Maya Weug can provide from last year’s visit.
With the 2025 season entering its final stages, she’s determined to make the most out of the experience racing in Singapore even if the demands, both physically and mentally, are high.
“From everything I’ve seen and what I’ve done on the sim, the Marina Bay Street Circuit is going to be really challenging,” she admitted. “It’s a street circuit, so it’s super tight and unforgiving, there's no room for error.
“Then you’ve got the heat and humidity on top, which will be another hurdle to jump over. It’s definitely going to be a test both physically and on the mental side of things, but that’s what makes it a really exciting weekend.”
She added: “It’s honestly difficult. On the sim I realised how much precision you need. Putting a lap together without a mistake is my biggest challenge considering my experience, but that’s what makes it so rewarding when you get it right.”