ART Grand Prix driver Lia Block claimed her first victory in the F1 Academy series during Race 1 in Singapore. Starting from pole in the reverse grid race, the American managed two safety car restarts effectively to hold off challengers. Backed by the Williams Driver Academy, Block expressed delight at topping off a challenging weekend with the win.
Lia Block, the 19-year-old American driver supported by the Williams Driver Academy, achieved a breakthrough moment by winning Race 1 of the F1 Academy in Singapore. Having made her debut in the all-female series earlier in 2024, Block started from pole position for the reverse grid event and focused on maintaining her lead amid competitive action behind her.
The race featured two safety car periods, on lap 3 and lap 10, which tested Block's restart skills. She described the strategy: “Here it’s just about trying to catch people off guard because there are not many places to strategically do a restart. I was just waiting for Maya to weave in my mirrors and then floor it from there. Both of my restarts were pretty good. I was happy about that — gave me some breathing room for sure.”
Despite a difficult qualifying session the previous day, Block managed the race calmly, dealing with one lock-up but avoiding major issues. She kept an eye on her closest rival, Maya Weug, but emphasized self-focus: “I was looking in my mirrors a couple of times to see how close Maya was, but I just kept focusing on myself. It was pretty easy to the end, no squabbles... we did it.”
Post-race, Block reflected on the achievement: “I feel great. It wasn’t a great qualifying or start to the weekend yesterday, but topping it off with a win, so I can go home now! Just kidding, I still have another race.” Looking ahead to Race 2, she added, “It’s full circle now. I started from the bottom and now we’re at the top. It feels really good. Just means I have to work 10 times harder tomorrow to get another good result, but super happy with this.”
With only Race 2 in Singapore and the season finale in Las Vegas remaining, Block's future plans for 2026 remain unconfirmed. This victory marks a significant step in her burgeoning career in motorsport.
