2023 Rewind: De Heus seizes maiden single seater victory as Bühler bounces back in Barcelona

Writing her own history and reinvigorating title hopes, F1 ACADEMY’s first visit to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya delivered an abundance of action. Emely De Heus kickstarted her ’23 turnaround with her inaugural victory in cars whilst Amna Al Qubaisi ensured a double win for MP Motorsport and eventual Vice Champion Léna Bühler turned Race 1 disappointment to triumph in Race 3.As the 2024 field prepare to return to the Spanish circuit for Round 3, we reminisce on the highs and lows from last year’s electrifying weekend.MP QUICK OFF THE BATHamda Al Qubaisi entered the third round with a spring in her step, having sealed her first win in the series last time out in Valencia — 75 days after sustaining a broken arm in a high impact collision.Having completed pre-season testing at the track earlier in the year, the Emirati driver quickly got reacquainted with the circuit’s 14 turns in Free Practice 1, topping the timing sheets with a 1:42.495. Her form continued into FP2, finishing two tenths clear of Bianca Bustamante and home hero Nerea Martí.A strong weekend for MP began with Hamda Al Qubaisi leading the pack in both Free Practice sessionsNO MARGIN FOR ERROR IN QUALIFYINGRecognising that track evolution would play a key part in Qualifying, 11 drivers opted to wait it out, with only four cars setting a meaningful lap at the six minutes to go mark. Rodin Carlin’s Jessica Edgar had taken control of the first session early on, setting a 1:43.177, but was quickly demoted as a stream of cars flooded out. Alpine junior Abbi Pulling momentarily went top, before Hamda Al Qubaisi and Emely De Heus broke into the 1:41s.The Briton responded with a 1:41.594, but De Heus still had more time to find, seizing her first pole position by 0.035s with a 1:41.344. Bühler also benefitted from a last-gasp improvement, elevating the Swiss racer to second, with Pulling’s effort remaining good enough for P3.READ MORE: The 2024 F1 ACADEMY season so far: The year’s early storylines and what to watch for nowContinuing their waiting game into the second Qualifying session, times proved to be nip-and-tuck throughout. Pulling bettered Qualifying 1’s fastest effort on a 1:41.290 as times rapidly tumbled. Hamda Al Qubaisi and Bühler both went inside the 1:40s, but the ART Grand Prix driver wasn’t quite done yet. With one final flying lap, Bühler pipped Hamda Al Qubaisi to pole by nine thousandths, with Standings leader Marta García earning a second row start.DE HEUS’ COMPOSURE REWARDED WITH MAIDEN WINStarting on pole, the nerves were undoubtedly there for De Heus as the lights went out. Despite enjoying a solid start, it couldn’t compare to Bühler’s phenomenal getaway from second, launching her into the lead by Turn 1. Hamda Al Qubaisi was also on a charge, dispatching Pulling into the first corner to move up into the podium positions and then tried to put the pressure on her MP teammate. Fending her off, De Heus’ eyes were fully focused on Bühler ahead, who had extended her advantage out front to over a second.Bühler looked on course for her maiden victory in Race 1, but it would be De Heus who ultimately brought home the honoursHowever, things would dramatically turn on their head in the latter stages. Hamda Al Qubaisi would be forced to retire with an issue and then with three laps to go, disaster struck for race leader Bühler. Sitting comfortably with a three-second advantage, the gap disappeared in a blink as the ART driver trundled to a halt, pulling up at the side of the track with an issue. Inheriting the lead, De Heus never looked back as she earned the Dutch squad’s third win of the campaign. Taking the chequered flag three seconds clear of second place Pulling, it began a run of seven consecutive points-scoring finishes for the Dutch driver, having only achieved two across the previous six races.PREMA Racing’s García and Bianca Bustamante had been locked in a fierce battle from the opening lap, with it all coming to ahead in a final lap battle for the last podium spot. Gambling on a move into the second to last corner, Bustamante’s attempt to get through on the inside line was rebuffed, allowing the Spaniard to hold on to her fourth podium finish in seven races.READ MORE: Behind The Visor: 'A helmet signifies who you are' - Bianca Bustamante on her AI-created Miami design and what it meansSpeaking after the podium, De Heus reflected: “It feels really good. It’s also my first podium of the season, and in cars. I didn’t expect it to be honest when I got to Barcelona, but I’m really happy about it.“At the start I was a bit nervous to be honest, and then it went away. I lost a position to Lena and then, after Léna got a bit of damage on the car, I don’t know what happened but all the oil got on my car so I thought it was raining. I didn’t see anything anymore, so I was stressing (about it). I could keep driving and I finished first. I was really happy because I got a lot of bad luck in other weekends, so I’m happy I got some good p