Hitech drivers shine in F1 Academy season opener

Qualifying proved extremely competitive across the grid, with Ava leading the Hitech charge in ninth place. Robertson followed in 12th, while Shi lined up 18th for her debut appearance.

Race 1 offered plenty of action, particularly in the midfield battles where Hitech’s drivers were firmly in the mix. Dobson delivered a composed drive to maintain ninth position, navigating a chaotic race that featured a Safety Car and several on-track incidents. Robertson impressed with her race craft, climbing from 12th on the grid to finish 10th. Shi, meanwhile, gained valuable experience in her Wild Card outing, bringing the car home in 17th after an early-race setback.

Sunday’s Race 2 saw further resilience from the Hitech trio. Dobson once again showed consistency to take the chequered flag in ninth place, completing a clean sweep of top-10 finishes across the weekend. Robertson looked set to build on her Race 1 performance but was unfortunately forced to retire, marking a frustrating end to an otherwise encouraging debut. Shi’s weekend similarly ended prematurely with a DNF, though her pace and determination across both races highlighted strong potential.

Across the weekend, the team demonstrated solid midfield pace and a clear upward trajectory, particularly with Dobson’s consistency and Robertson’s ability to move forward through the pack. For a line-up featuring two rookies and a Wild Card driver, the Shanghai round provided a crucial foundation to build on as the season progresses.

With lessons learned and confidence gained, Hitech will now look ahead to the next round aiming to convert promise into further points and continue climbing the order in an increasingly competitive 2026 season.