Talking Points: Jessica Hawkins on hot laps in Las Vegas, our next F1 ACADEMY driver, and chasing the Le Mans dream
High stakes. Higher speeds. As F1 descends on Las Vegas, Aston Martin Aramco Head of F1 Academy and Driver Ambassador Jessica Hawkins reveals what's on her packed agenda in the City of Lights, previews Tina Hausmann's F1 ACADEMY finale, and discusses her continued quest to line up on the grid at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Night mode activated. F1 2025 enters its final throes with one last globe-trotting triple-header, starting under the bright neon lights of Las Vegas.
Set for its third running since joining the calendar in 2023, few locations better encapsulate the risk and reward nature of Grand Prix racing than the Entertainment Capital of the World.
It's a place where dreams can be made and where opportunity awaits around every turn. Head of F1 Academy and Driver Ambassador Jessica Hawkins gives insight on what's to come this weekend and discusses her own ambitious aspirations behind the wheel.
What's on your schedule in Las Vegas?
"I've got a packed few days. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is a very busy race weekend for the team, both on the track and commercially, and there are a few different activities that I'll be involved in.
"We've got the last round of the F1 ACADEMY season, so I'll be supporting Tina Hausmann as she competes in her final races in the series, and I'll be on track myself when I take some of the team's guests for a spin during Hot Laps, which is one of my favourite parts of the weekend.
"I've done it before in Las Vegas and driving down the Strip is very cool. We sit a little bit higher in the road cars than Lance and Fernando will in the AMR25, so you see a bit more of the Strip as you're racing through; it's as surreal as it is amazing.
"I'll also be at Ocean Prime on Saturday for a Glenfiddich event, and I'll be engaging with a lot of our other partners in the paddock over the race weekend."
What have you been doing with the team and our partners lately?
"One of the biggest things I've been working on is filming a documentary with our partner, Arm.
"It covers my motorsport journey from a young age but is mainly focused on my participation in GT World Challenge and my quest to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and how Arm is supporting me to achieve that. It's being released soon so keep your eyes peeled.
"It's great to work with our partners so closely and I've done a lot of fun things with them this year. They're doing things I'm really passionate about, so it's really easy for me to work with them. Last month I visited PUMA's flagship store in Mexico City for a panel on breaking down barriers and championing female leadership in male-dominated industries, and I've been doing a lot with ELEMIS and Maaden recently as well."
How do you reflect on your GT World Challenge season?
"It's been a really incredible experience and I've learned a lot this year. I've been unlucky at points; track time has been cut short due to no fault of my own, but my progress has been massive. I was very, very strong at the final race in Barcelona and that was great.
"I'm really pleased with my progression this season. Sometimes you get years where you're unlucky and I think this year was one of those, but it's been a great experience and now we're assessing our options for 2026."
Las Vegas marks Tina Hausmann's final outing representing the team in F1 ACADEMY. How would you assess her development and the progress she's made over the last two years?
"Tina has made good improvements from last year and has already outscored her 2024 points tally.
"She's grown a lot with us as a driver. She was quite unlucky last year, but she's developed well and this year has been stronger, which is something you always look for.
"I hope she has a great career and does well in whatever she does next, implementing a lot of the things that she has learned inside the team.
"She's had some incredible experiences competing in F1 ACADEMY, both in terms of racing at F1 circuits and the opportunities and exposure the series provides, and I hope she can finish the season on a high this weekend."
Excitingly, I think there's even more we can do to maximise F1 ACADEMY's potential.
All the F1 teams have reaffirmed their commitment to F1 ACADEMY for next season. What have you made of the growth and development of the series?
"F1 ACADEMY is here to stay. It's established itself as part of Grand Prix weekends and that's brilliant.
"I was totally convinced the support from the F1 teams was going to continue, and that's testament to the positive impact that the series has had.
"It's a great platform for young female racing drivers to get valuable experience that they otherwise wouldn't have and there's real commercial value in it as well, so it's a win-win for all involved.
"I'm very happy that it's going from strength to strength and I believe, excitingly, that we've only scratched the surface.
"I think there's even more we can do to maximise F1 ACADEMY's potential and the team's participation in it. There are so many trackside opportunities we can explore with our partners in terms of how they want to activate around the series. There's a lot to look forward to."
She's passionate about racing; she eats, sleeps, and breathes it.
What can you tell us about our new F1 ACADEMY driver for 2026?
"I've only spent a small amount of time with her, but she's been very impressive so far. She's passionate about racing; she eats, sleeps, and breathes it. We're starting from a very good baseline with her.
"She's very motivated and she wants to win. She's got a real opportunity to shine, and I think she will grab it with both hands – but you'll have to wait a little longer to find out who it is."
Finally, Las Vegas has quickly become one of the biggest events on the F1 calendar. What's been your experience of it?
"The Las Vegas Grand Prix delivers everything that you would expect the Las Vegas Grand Prix to deliver. It's one of the most significant races of the year from a commercial point of view and it's one of the most glamorous.
"It attracts a lot of media attention outside of the motorsport sphere because it's such an evocative, iconic location, and a lot of famous names will be in town to watch the action. If you're in the United States when it's Las Vegas race week, there's only one place to be."
Under the bright lightsUnder the bright lights
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