Star driver stuns home crowd after being declared ‘unfit’ for Dutch GP

Alpine-backed F1 Academy star Nina Gademan has taken her first victory in the all-female racing series in front of her home crowd at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Alongside the return of the F1 championship this weekend, Zandvoort also hosted the fifth round of support series F1 Academy.

One year on from when Gademan made her debut as a wild card entry at her home race, she took pole for the reverse grid race on Saturday after making a surprise comeback from a tumultuous start to her weekend.

The Dutch racer was declared 'unfit to drive' on Friday after being forced to miss FP2, but after undergoing additional checks, was cleared to compete in qualifying.

After setting the the eighth fastest time, the Alpine star started the first race of the weekend on reverse grid pole, going on to claim a stunning maiden victory, and on her 22nd birthday no less.

After Saturday's reverse grid race, Gademan appeared emotional on the podium as the Dutch national anthem blasted out over the speakers, and certainly not for the first time at Zandvoort.

Gademan celebrates birthday with win at Dutch GP

Speaking to Ariana Bravo following her maiden victory in F1 Academy, the 22-year-old said: "It's special for a lot of reasons, obviously it's my home race, last year I was so close to the podium as the wild card and then to win next year, exactly a year later is just crazy.

"We've missed out twice on the win due to mechanical issues and I mean yesterday I was declared unfit, and now I'm a race winner! It's been a crazy 24 hours really."

Gademan managed to hold her lead in front of the home crowd on Saturday as Williams-backed driver Lia Block and Ferrari star Maya Weug battled it out for the remaining two podium positions just behind her.

The Alpine driver discussed how she managed to hold off Block to pick up an extra 10 points this weekend, also hinting at her injury.

"The start was quite easy and that thing from this morning to today, I thought it would be a struggle as I missed out on FP2 and on the important dry running, but in the end it was actually quite easy at the start.

"I can drive as I want to without the injury having a lot of influence."

The Dutch star signed off her first P1 interview with a heartfelt message to her mother, and a message in Dutch to her home crowd.

Nina Gademan WINS at home! 🇳🇱

A mega drive from Nina on her 22nd birthday to secure her first win in F1 Academy. #F1Academy #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/BUxJvbqbHr

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) August 30, 2025

F1 HEADLINES: Sky pundit calls for Max Verstappen demotion as FIA issue penalty verdict

READ MORE: Mercedes cut ties with race-winning driver for 2026

F1 COMMENTATORS: Meet the Sky Sports and Channel 4 teams including Martin Brundle, Naomi Schiff and Danica Patrick

Related