We chatted to O'Connor to discuss how she prepares for every scenario that could lie ahead and why asking for help is the best way to better yourself.

PREMA Racing's Eimear O'Connor has to be ready for anything on the pit wall - even the smallest split-second decision can decide between success and failure.
As Maya Weug’s Race Engineer - and the calm, encouraging and informative voice over the radio - she helped the Ferrari driver deliver her first win last season. We chatted to O'Connor to discuss how she prepares for every scenario that could lie ahead, how she deals with unpredictability on track and why asking for help is the best way to better yourself.

Career Spotlight: Meet Eimear O’Connor, Race Engineer at PREMA Racing

There have been few occasions this season where you might have spotted another vehicle out on track during an F1 ACADEMY race. This isn’t just any old car, it’s one that is critical to ensuring the wellbeing of drivers and personnel — the Safety Car.
In the next instalment of our EXPLAINED series, Tina Hausmann gives us the lowdown on how drivers deal with Safety Car appearances and challenges they have to overcome on the restarts.

EXPLAINED: How do Safety Cars work in F1 ACADEMY?

The 2024 Vice Champion will remain behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG F1 ACADEMY entry, operated by PREMA Racing, next season.

Doriane Pin will be looking to go one better in 2025, as Mercedes have confirmed that their Junior Programme driver will be returning to F1 ACADEMY next season.
Scoring three victories and an additional five podiums en route to becoming the Vice Champion this year, Pin will remain behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG F1 ACADEMY entry, operated by PREMA Racing. 
The 20-year-old French racer will benefit from additional track time, combining her sophomore F1 ACADEMY campaign with competing in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) alongside participating in select rounds of the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC) over winter break. 

Doriane Pin returns for second F1 ACADEMY campaign with Mercedes

Team Manager Camilla Colombo reflects on PREMA Racing's success, as they fended off Rodin Motorsport to retain the Teams' title.

It all came down to those last few laps around the Yas Marina Circuit as PREMA Racing were crowned Teams’ Champions for the second consecutive season.

Facing stiff competition from Rodin Motorsport throughout the 2024 campaign, the Italian team’s defence didn’t go all their own way. Crucially, Maya Weug’s maiden victory in Race 3 alongside Tina Hausmann and Doriane Pin’s top five finishes were enough for them to retain the title by 40 points.


‘I never thought to win until the last lap’ – Colombo hails PREMA Racing’s resilience as recipe for Teams’ title defence

Highlights: Round 7 Race 3 in Yas Marina

HIGHLIGHTS: Weug victorious for the first time in Yas Marina season finale 

Maya Weug debriefs her first single-seater and F1 ACADEMY win, as the Ferrari driver ends the season on a high in Yas Marina. 

Ferrari's Maya Weug debriefs her first single-seater and F1 ACADEMY win, as she ends the season on a high in Yas Marina. 


'It was a mind game' - Weug reflects on her sensational first F1 ACADEMY victory in Yas Marina

Maya Weug ended the 2024 F1 ACADEMY season on a high, as she took her maiden win in Yas Marina to help PREMA Racing clinch the Teams’ title.

Ferrari’s Maya Weug ended the 2024 F1 ACADEMY season on a high, as she took a maiden win in Yas Marina to help PREMA Racing clinch the Teams’ title for the second consecutive season.

RACE 3: Weug takes maiden F1 ACADEMY win to secure PREMA back-to-back Teams' titles in thrilling final race at Yas Marina 

Highlights: Round 6 Race 1 in Lusail

HIGHLIGHTS: Pulling crowned Champion as Pin lights up Lusail with Race 1 victory

The Mercedes driver believes that her performance on Saturday was "one of the best races of the season" after sealing her third win of 2024 in Lusail.

Mercedes’ Doriane Pin continued her impressive pace around Lusail with a commanding victory for F1 ACADEMY’S Race 1 on Saturday. 

Pin reflects on her 'amazing' masterclass victory in Lusail  

Alpine’s Abbi Pulling has sealed the F1 ACADEMY title in Lusail, despite Doriane Pin putting in a dominant display to win her third race of the year.

Alpine’s Abbi Pulling has sealed the F1 ACADEMY title in Lusail, despite Doriane Pin putting in a dominant display to win her third race of the season. 

RACE 1: Pulling secures Drivers' title as Pin takes dominant victory in Lusail

Ferrari's Maya Weug has her sights firmly set on a maiden F1 ACADEMY victory, as she starts both races in Lusail from the front row of the grid. 

Weug 'feeling confident' victory could be on the cards from Lusail Race 1 front row

Pin secured her fourth and fifth pole positions of the season, as the Mercedes driver continued her strong run of form around the Lusail circuit. 

Doriane Pin secured her fourth and fifth pole positions of the season, as the Mercedes driver continued her strong run of form around the Lusail circuit. 

QUALIFYING: Pin grabs double pole positions in Qatar ahead of Weug and Pulling

Highlights: Round 6 Qualifying in Lusail

HIGHLIGHTS: Pin goes two-for-two with double pole in Lusail

Let’s take a look at the answers to all your burning title fight questions as the battle to be crowned Drivers' and Teams' Champions heats up.

There are high stakes heading into the penultimate round of the 2024 F1 ACADEMY season, with both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles hanging in the balance.
Whilst the three-way battle between PREMA Racing, Rodin Motorsport and Campos Racing is set to go down to a season-defining finale in Abu Dhabi, Abbi Pulling’s commanding lead means the odds are in her favour to secure the title in Lusail.


How Pulling can win the F1 ACADEMY title in Qatar – and what Pin needs to do to keep the fight alive

Doriane Pin made it two-for-two in the second Free Practice in Lusail, edging ahead of title rival Abbi Pulling at the chequered flag.

Doriane Pin made it two-for-two in the second Free Practice in Lusail, edging ahead of title rival Abbi Pulling at the chequered flag. It was a closely-fought session, with the top three separated by only 0.142s as Wild Card driver Alisha Palmowski made her mark in third.


PRACTICE 2: Pin doubles up in second Lusail Practice as she clocks fastest time ahead of Pulling

After leading the way in FP1, Doriane Pin says she’s determined to keep her name at the top of the timing sheets throughout Round 6 in Lusail.

After leading the way in the opening Free Practice session in Lusail, Doriane Pin says she’s determined to keep her name at the top of the timing sheets throughout Round 6. 

Pin believes ‘adaptation’ the key to success in Qatar as she tops Free Practice 1

PREMA Racing’s Doriane Pin kept her title dream alive, as she topped the first session around Lusail. 

Doriane Pin's dream of keeping her title hopes alive got off to an ideal start as the PREMA Racing star topped the first practice session around Lusail.

PRACTICE 1: Pin top of the timesheets ahead of Pulling in Lusail opener 

Well-versed in their ins-and-outs of the Pirelli rubber, Maya Weug talks us through everything you need to know about the 13-inch tyres.  

EXPLAINED: How do F1 ACADEMY tyres work?

Team Manager Camilla Colombo says the reigning Champions PREMA Racing are single-minded in their goal to retain the title

Reigning Teams’ Champions PREMA Racing have had a target on their back all season long, but Team Manager Camilla Colombo says the team are single-minded in their goal to retain the title. Scoring two wins and a further 10 podiums, the Italian outfit hold a narrow advantage at the top of the Teams’ Standings, sitting seven points ahead of Rodin Motorsport. 

'Look forward and not in the mirror' – Team Manager Colombo explains PREMA's approach in Teams’ title quest

The Mercedes driver knows that the title is an outside shot, but however slim her chances are, she’s going to be fighting to the finish.

Casting her mind back to this time last year, Doriane Pin had just started to dip her toe into the world of single-seater racing, competing in the F4 South East Asia Championship.  
Now, the Mercedes driver prepares to embark on the final two rounds of her debut F1 ACADEMY campaign. Sitting second in the Standings with a 95-point deficit to long-time leader Abbi Pulling, Pin knows that the title is an outside shot, but however slim her chances are, she’s going to be fighting to the finish. 

‘It’s a transition year’ – Pin tips PREMA for Teams’ title triumph as she aims to round out debut season victorious  

Pin ended the final day of in-season testing on top, going quickest in the last session of running around the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.

Doriane Pin ended the final day of in-season testing on top, going quickest in the last session of running around the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.
In the morning, the honours went to Abbi Pulling, whose 1:56.769 narrowly edged her ahead of Pin by 0.054s with Hamda Al Qubaisi a further tenth behind in third.
The margins were even tighter in the afternoon with 0.049s separating the top three of Pin, Hamda Al Qubaisi and Pulling. 

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