Doriane Pin Passes Chequered Flag Twice and Loses F1 Academy Win

By Honor Dench

Mercedes representative, Doriane Pin stripped of her second race win after failing to stop under the chequered flag.

Pin was heard asking her engineer “how many laps to go?” whilst unknowingly driving the cool down lap.

Race control eventually showed her the red flag, and later served Pin with a 20 second time penalty, costing her a win.

The penalty has been criticised by F1 commentator and former driver, Karun Chandhock.

Phoebe Wilkinson, who is engaging with the F1 Academy for the first time this year described the penalty as a “shock!”

“It isn’t something I’ve seen before in motorsport, but I see why race control made the decision. It was dangerous.”

Alpine’s Abbi Pulling was promoted to race winner and leads the drivers’ standings after finishing second in Friday’s race.

She was joined on the podium by Ferrari’s Maya Wueg.

Nerea Marti was awarded third once the time penalties were enacted.

Despite this, Pin remains the title favourite after topping every on track session this weekend.

Elsewhere, Levinfosse earned a five-place grid penalty to be sanctioned in Miami’s race, after causing a collision by dangerously re-joining the track.

Amna Al Qubaisi of RB was given a five second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage against Aurelia Nobels.

Despite the penalties, this was a huge weekend for women’s racing.

Marine, of Girls Off Track, said “this is a huge window into what motorsport could look like for women!

“If we inspire more girls to get behind the wheel, to study for the engineering, the marketing, the strategic jobs, we’ll be able to slowly make the significant changes.”

She added “it won’t happen in a day, but the process has just started, and we need more women to get behind us.”

The Girls Off Track group was set up with the intention to offer a “friendly space where girls and women can discuss F1, learn from fellow fangirls and never feel less than their fellow fanboys and passionate men.”

It’s clear the F1 Academy is going to have a lasting impact on women in the sport, be it fans or employees.

The action continues May 3rd in Miami.