Weekend Chaos on the Streets of Miami

The F1 Academy made its highly anticipated return to the Miami International Autodrome for Round 3 of the 2025 season, marking the first of three North American race weekends. The event featured intense competition and dramatic moments for drivers and spectators alike.

Qualifying
Dark clouds loomed over the Miami street circuit as F1 Academy drivers lined up for Saturday’s qualifying session. With rain radar showing an imminent downpour, teams urged drivers to push hard from the outset. Chloe Chambers made the most of her early track position by delivering a flying lap that would prove uncatchable as conditions rapidly deteriorated, nullifying the hopes of a proper time for those further down the track.

The sudden downpour soaked the track, especially punishing at Turn 11, where several drivers including Chambers herself, Lola Lovinfosse, Lia Block, and Rafaela Ferreira encountered major grip issues.

Though the rain subsided in the final 10 minutes, the surface remained treacherously slick, preventing any significant improvements. Nicole Havrda was among those most affected, unable to post a competitive time before the rain arrived, leaving her 14th on the grid.

Race 1
Chaos erupted right from the opening seconds of Saturday’s race as Ella Lloyd misjudged her braking into Turn 1, clipping the rear of Rafaela Ferreira. The contact forced Lloyd into early retirement and triggered the deployment of the first safety car, setting the tone for the race.

At the restart on Lap 3, Nicole Havrda showed immediate intent. The American Express-backed driver launched aggressively off the line, climbing to P13 by Sector 1 of the opening lap. However, she slipped back to her original grid position as the field settled into a rhythm.

On Lap 4 she was overtaken by a hard-charging Alba Larsen, dropping her to P15. Undeterred, she was locked in a tense midfield battle, involving Chloe Chong and Joanne Ciconte.

A decisive moment came on Lap 8. Going into Turn 11, Chong and Ciconte battled side-by-side, leaving a the door open on the inside. Nicole seized the opportunity, diving down the inside for a double pass. The move triggered contact between Chong and Ciconte, sending both out of the race and bringing out a second safety car. Nicole emerged unscathed from the chaos and up into P13.

In the closing stages, further incidents shuffled the order. Nicole briefly dropped to P14 but kept her composure amid the drama, crossing the line in P12—her best finish of the season to date.

It was a gritty, opportunistic drive from Havrda in a race that tested every driver’s focus and adaptability.

After the race, Nicole said, “Starting P14, due to the rain during qualifying, I was excited to gain some positions, and have some good battles on the track.”

“We’re still working on coming to grips with the car, but it’s coming together, and it’s my best finish of the year, so far. I can’t wait for tomorrow!”

Race 2
The second F1 Academy second race of the weekend was postponed due to torrential rain, marking a disappointing end to the series’ first North American outing of the season. Though drivers hoped to begin the race behind the safety car, worsening conditions led to multiple spins and visibility issues caused by aquaplaning.

Emma Felbermayr and Ella Lloyd were among the first to slide off at low speed, followed by a spin from Nicole Havrida in her Hitech TGR. Felbermayr spun again on the pit straight, prompting red flags before a single racing lap could be completed. After a 10-minute delay, race officials confirmed the cancellation of the Miami race due to unsafe track conditions and will make up the race at later date.

A disappointed Nicole said, “I was excited to race in the rain, but it [the race] had to be cancelled. It was crazy how much water was on track. The hydroplaning was absolutely insane!”