Maya Martine Els Weug (born 1 June 2004) is a Dutch-Belgian-Spanish[1] racing driver, who currently competes in F1 Academy for Prema Racing, having previously raced in the Formula Regional European Championship for KIC Motorsport. She is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and the first female driver to have ever joined the academy.[2][3][4]

Maya Weug
NationalityNetherlands Dutch
Belgium Belgian
Spain Spanish
Full nameMaya Martine Els Weug
Born (2004-06-01) 1 June 2004 (age 20)
Pedreguer, Valencian Community, Spain
F1 Academy career
Debut season2024
Current teamPrema Racing
Car number64
Starts14 (14 entries)
Wins1
Podiums8
Poles0
Fastest laps1
Best finish3rd in 2024
Previous series
2021-2022
2021-2022
2023
Italian F4 Championship
ADAC Formula 4
Formula Regional European Championship

Career

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Karting

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Weug started karting when she was seven years old.[3] She has competed in multiple national championships, such as the Spanish Karting Championship, where she finished second in the Alevin Class in 2015. 2016 was Weug's first year on the international karting stage, where she would immediately show her talent, winning the WSK Final Cup in the 60 Mini category, where she beat fellow future academy member Dino Beganovic.[5] In the next four years the Dutch racer continued to compete on the international karting stage, making appearances in both the CIK-FIA Karting European Championship and Karting World Championship; her best result in the former ended up being a 17th place in 2020.

Lower formulae

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2021

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Weug driving at the Red Bull Ring during the 2021 Italian F4 Championship.

In 2021 Weug made her debut in Italian F4 for Iron Lynx Motorsport Lab as part of their Iron Dames program, in association with her FDA-membership.[6] Driving alongside the Italian pairing of Leonardo Fornaroli and Pietro Armanni, Weug would score three rookie podiums, one each at Le Castellet, Misano and Vallelunga, however she would miss out on scoring any points in the main championship, thus ending up 35th in the standings. In an interview, Weug stated that "we were so close so many times [to score points]", and said that her lack of experience hindered her throughout the season.[7]

2022

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Weug driving at Spa-Francorchamps during the 2022 ADAC Formula 4 Championship.

For the 2022 season the Dutch driver would remain with Iron Dames, partnering Ivan Domingues.[8] A mixed-weather qualifying session in the opening round at the Imola Circuit enabled Weug to start third in both races on Sunday, and after scoring her first point in Race 1 she would finish sixth on Sunday.[9][10] At the following round in Misano, Weug continued this run of form by scoring yet more points, and despite a heavy collision at the end of Race 3 she would be classified eighth due to the countback rule.[11] The Belgian took a tenth place from the next meeting at Spa-Francorchamps, before yet another top-ten finish at Vallelunga. Having scored points in three more races during the remainder of the season, Weug was placed 14th in the championship, one place ahead of teammate Domingues.[12]

F1 Academy

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Weug leads Abbi Pulling in an F1 Academy race at Zandvoort in 2024.

Weug moved down to F1 Academy for the 2024 season, racing with Prema Racing and representing Scuderia Ferrari.[13] After 5 rounds she sits in 3rd place with six podiums.[14]

Formula Regional

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2023

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Having taken part in several post-season tests with KIC Motorsport, Weug would progress to the Formula Regional European Championship, driving for the Finnish outfit.[15][16] She achieved her best result in the second race at Spa-Francorchamps, with a rookie win and 6th place overall classification. She was the only KIC Motorsport driver to score any points during the season, finishing in a points position 6 times for a total of 27 points.[17] Weug finished the 2023 FRECA season third among rookies, and 17th among all 42 drivers eligible for points.[18]

2024

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Weug returned to the Formula Regional European Championship in 2024 with KIC Motorsport for the Mugello round.[19]

FIA Formula 3

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Weug was selected to take part in a one-day FIA Formula 3 test at Magny-Cours in November 2021, alongside fellow Iron Dames racer Doriane Pin and W Series drivers Nerea Martí and Irina Sidorkova.[20]

Formula One

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In October 2020 Weug was nominated as one of twenty female drivers of ages between 12 and 16 to compete in the Girls on Track - Rising Stars programme organized by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, with the reward for the victor of the shootout being a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy.[21] Weug made it into the final selection stage alongside Doriane Pin, Julia Ayoub and Antonella Bassani, and on 22 January it was announced that she had won the shootout and would be joining the FDA.[22][23][2]

Personal life

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Weug was born in Costa Blanca, Spain[3] to a Dutch father[24] and a Belgian mother.[25] She has competed under the flags of all three nations across her career.[26][27][28]

Karting record

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Karting career summary

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Season Series Team Position
2013 Spanish Championship — Alevin 14th
2014 Formula de Campeones — Alevin 4th
2015 WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini Weug, Johan 57th
Spanish Championship — Alevin 2nd
Copa de Campeones — Alevin 1st
2016 WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini Morcia, Giuseppe NC
X30 Challenge Europa — Mini ROK 4th
Italian Championship — 60 Mini 15th
South Garda Winter Cup — Mini ROK 9th
WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini 38th
WSK Night Edition — 60 Mini 4th
WSK Final Cup — 60 Mini 1st
2017 WSK Champions CupOKJ Pescador, Luis 24th
WSK Super Master SeriesOKJ 62nd
CIK-FIA European ChampionshipOKJ NC†
CIK-FIA World ChampionshipOKJ BKC Racing 36th
WSK Final CupOKJ Novalux Srl 13th
2018 WSK Champions CupOKJ Novalux Srl 26th
WSK Super Master SeriesOKJ 23rd
CIK-FIA European ChampionshipOKJ 28th
CIK-FIA World ChampionshipOKJ 16th
WSK Final CupOKJ 19th
2019 South Garda Winter Cup — OK Birel ART Racing NC
WSK Super Master SeriesOK 23rd
Championnat de France — OK 20th
CIK-FIA European ChampionshipOK 51st
CIK-FIA World ChampionshipOK 63rd
2020 WSK Super Master SeriesOK Birel ART Racing 38th
CIK-FIA European ChampionshipOK 17th
WSK Euro SeriesOK 12th
Champions of the Future — OK 36th
CIK-FIA World ChampionshipOK 36th

As Weug was a guest driver, she was ineligible to score points.

Complete Karting World Championship results

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Year Team Car Quali Heats Main race
2017   BKC Racing OKJ 36th DNQ
2018   Novalux Srl OKJ 16th 16th
2019   Birel ART Racing OK 63rd DNQ
2020   Birel ART Racing OK 30th DNS

Complete CIK-FIA Karting European Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
2017 Luis, Pescador OKJ SAR
QH
57
SAR
R
DNQ
CAY
QH
CAY
R
LEM
QH
LEM
R
ALA
QH
ALA
R
KRI
QH
KRI
R
NC† 0
2018 Novalux Srl OKJ SAR
QH
22
SAR
R
11
PFI
QH
38
PFI
R
DNQ
AMP
QH
30
AMP
R
29
ALB
QH
ALB
R
28th 5
2019 Birel ART Racing OK ANG
QH
29
ANG
R
32
GEN
QH
40
GEN
R
DNQ
KRI
QH
46
KRI
R
DNQ
LEM
QH
39
LEM
R
DNQ
51st 0
2020 Birel ART Racing OK ZUE
QH
15
ZUE
R
9
SAR
QH
19
SAR
R
34
WAC
QH
25
WAC
R
20
17th 7

Racing record

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Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2021 Italian F4 Championship Iron Lynx 21 0 0 0 0 0 35th
ADAC Formula 4 Championship 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2022 Italian F4 Championship Iron Dames 20 0 0 0 0 36 14th
ADAC Formula 4 Championship 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2023 Formula Regional European Championship KIC Motorsport 20 0 0 0 0 27 17th
2024 F1 Academy Prema Racing 14 1 0 1 8 177 3rd
Formula Regional European Championship KIC Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 0 29th

As Weug was a guest driver, she was ineligible for championship points.
* Season still in progress.

Complete Italian F4 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points
2021 Iron Lynx LEC
1

19
LEC
2

17
LEC
3

15
MIS
1

13
MIS
2

25
MIS
3

12
VLL
1

Ret
VLL
2

11
VLL
3

12
IMO
1

22
IMO
2

14
IMO
3

25
RBR
1

17
RBR
2

14
RBR
3

16
MUG
1

20
MUG
2

17
MUG
3

22
MNZ
1

21
MNZ
2

29
MNZ
3

14
35th 0
2022 Iron Dames IMO
1

10
IMO
2

6
IMO
3

28†
MIS
1

7
MIS
2

11
MIS
3

8
SPA
1

13
SPA
2

10
SPA
3

15
VLL
1

13
VLL
2

11
VLL
3

8
RBR
1
RBR
2

7
RBR
3

8
RBR
4

11
MNZ
1

37†
MNZ
2

28
MNZ
3

C
MUG
1

14
MUG
2

9
MUG
3

15
14th 36

Complete ADAC Formula 4 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points
2021 Iron Lynx RBR
1

15
RBR
2

16
RBR
3

9
ZAN
1

18
ZAN
2

Ret
ZAN
3

15
HOC1
1
HOC1
2
HOC1
3
SAC
1
SAC
2
SAC
3
HOC2
1
HOC2
2
HOC2
3
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
NÜR
3
NC† 0
2022 Iron Dames SPA
1

16
SPA
2

Ret
SPA
3

18
HOC
1
HOC
2
HOC
3
ZAN
1

9
ZAN
2

11
ZAN
3

Ret
NÜR1
1
NÜR1
2
NÜR1
3
LAU
1
LAU
2
LAU
3
NÜR2
1
NÜR2
2
NÜR2
3
NC† 0

As Weug was a guest driver, she was ineligible for championship points.

Complete Formula Regional European Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2023 KIC Motorsport IMO
1

20
IMO
2

14
CAT
1

20
CAT
2

24
HUN
1

19
HUN
2

25
SPA
1

7
SPA
2

6
MUG
1

9
MUG
2

Ret
LEC
1

10
LEC
2

7
RBR
1

19
RBR
2

Ret
MNZ
1

9
MNZ
2

13
ZAN
1

19
ZAN
2

Ret
HOC
1

18
HOC
2

21
17th 27
2024 KIC Motorsport HOC
1
HOC
2
SPA
1
SPA
2
ZAN
1
ZAN
2
HUN
1
HUN
2
MUG
1
MUG
2
LEC
1
LEC
2
IMO
1

22
IMO
2

14
RBR
1
RBR
2
CAT
1
CAT
2
MNZ
1
MNZ
2
29th 0

Complete F1 Academy results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points
2024 Prema Racing JED
1

3
JED
2

2
MIA
1

6
MIA
2

5
CAT
1

Ret
CAT
2

13
ZAN
1

3
ZAN
2

2
SIN
1

2
SIN
2

2
LSL
1

3
LSL
2

C
ABU
1

7
ABU
2

5
ABU
3

1
3rd 177

References

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  1. ^ Johnston, Alex (2 November 2021). "Formula 3 pushes for diversity with all-female Magny-Cours test". Downforce Radio. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b Wood, Ida. "Maya Weug wins Girls on Track Rising Stars, gets Ferrari-backed F4 seat". Formula Scout. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Ramsay, George (23 January 2021). "Maya Weug becomes first female driver to earn a spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy". CNN. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  4. ^ Benson, Andrew (22 January 2021). "Ferrari: Maya Weug becomes team's first female academy driver". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Maya Weug: two seasons with Birel ART before joining the Ferrari Driver Academy". birelART. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  6. ^ Wood, Ida. "FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars winner Maya Weug joins Iron Lynx in F4". Formula Scout. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  7. ^ Studenkov, Alexander (4 August 2022). "Ferrari junior Maya Weug on women in motorsport: 'Girl or boy, it shouldn't make a difference'". F1 Feeder Series. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  8. ^ Studenkov, Alexander (3 May 2022). "Your season guide to the 2022 Italian F4 Championship". Feeder Series. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  9. ^ Studenkov, Alexander (10 May 2022). "The Alex Dunne Show: 4 takeaways from Italian F4 at Imola". F1 Feeder Series. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Iron Lynx and Iron Dames kick-off Italian Formula 4 season at Imola". Iron Lynx. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  11. ^ RACERS (5 June 2022). "F4 Italy: Maya Weug ends P8 after massive accident in Misano Race 3". Racers. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Iron Lynx takes solid points in Italian F4 after top-ten finishes in Austria". Iron Lynx. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Ferrari junior Maya Weug completes PREMA Racing's 2024 line-up". F1 Academy. 18 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  14. ^ "2024 F1 Academy standings | GRR". www.goodwood.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  15. ^ Wood, Ida (27 December 2022). "Ferrari continues backing of Maya Weug as she steps up to FREC". Formula Scout. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Maya Weug avec KIC Motorsport en 2023". AutoHebdo (in French). Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  17. ^ Clynes, Jenny (27 December 2023). "Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Maya Weug". DIVEBOMB. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Maya Weug Completes FRECA Season with Third in the Rookies Classification". Racers. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Buhler leaves ART GP in FREC as Weug returns with KIC Motorsport". Formula Scout. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  20. ^ Wood, Ida (27 October 2021). "F3 organises private test for W Series stars and Iron Dames racers". Formula Scout. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  21. ^ Wood, Ida. "FIA Girls on Track reveals full Rising Stars longlist for F4 shootout". Formula Scout. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Primeur: Ferrari legt Nederlands racetalent Maya Weug (16) vast". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 22 January 2021. Weug won een vijfdaagse scoutingswedstrijd. Ze krijgt nu een jaar lang de kans zich waar te maken in de Formule 4.
  23. ^ "Ferrari-baas Binotto spreekt van 'sleutelmoment' na komst Nederlandse Weug". Nu.nl (in Dutch). 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021. De zestienjarige Nederlandse werd vrijdag als eerste vrouwelijke coureur vastgelegd in het talentenprogramma van de roemruchte Italiaanse Formule 1-renstal.
  24. ^ "Half Nederlandse Maya Weug (16) eerste vrouwelijke coureur bij Ferrari". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 22 January 2021. Weug is geboren in Spanje, heeft een Belgische moeder en een Nederlandse vader.
  25. ^ "Droom komt uit voor 16-jarige Maya Weug: 'Kippenvel toen ik het rode Ferrari-shirt aantrok'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021. Weug heeft een Belgische moeder en een Nederlandse vader, maar is geboren en getogen in Spanje.
  26. ^ "2020 WSK Euro Series - OK - Round 2 Participants" (PDF). WSK Karting. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  27. ^ "2020 FIA European Karting Championship - OK - Results after Wackersdorf" (PDF). FIA Karting. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  28. ^ "2021 Italian F4 Championship - Paul Ricard - Race 3 Results" (PDF). ACI Sport. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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