EXCLUSIVE: The Williams F1 starlet who has never been to a Grand Prix
EXCLUSIVE: The Williams F1 starlet who has never been to a Grand Prix
The upcoming Saudi Arabian GP weekend will be the first time one of Williams' 2024 drivers has ever attended a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
With F1 Academy starting its season in Jeddah and the all-female championship having the backing of all 10 Formula 1 teams for its second season, some new names are set to race.
American teenager, Lia Block, is one such name, and she has Williams backing her to shine in the 15-car championship.
Speaking exclusively to GPFans, the 17-year-old Williams rookie admitted Jeddah would be her first taste of live F1 action:
"I've never been to a Grand Prix, so Saudi and Jeddah will be my first-ever time being at an actual F1 race.
"My dad was super into it, just watching every weekend," recalls Block, speaking of late rallying legend Ken Block, her father.
"We just never had the time to go, and obviously, it's very expensive to go as well!"
"I've always watched it and just grew up knowing about it, but it's always been an area of the unknown for me, and I think that's why I'm so drawn to it now."
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Mercedes pushing Russell, NOT Hamilton insists F1 champion
Lia Block's 2024 Racing
Block was speaking at Jerez, where she was racing in a winter championship to prepare for her first single-seater campaign after finding success in other racing categories.
"I've dipped my toes into rally and won a championship, as well as with rallycross and Extreme E," she explained, referring to her 2023 title in the American Rally Association two-wheel-drive class.
Why switch to road racing after the family's background and success in off-road categories? Block explains:
"I think coming from karting and knowing how much fun I have there just makes me want to experience this more."
READ MORE: Horner in defiant stance with wife Geri after Verstappen win
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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