Written by Sophie Harvey
Just one week after a championship-defining round in Qatar, F1 Academy regrouped for the final showdown of the season. From maiden wins to hard-fought battles, let’s recap what unfolded at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina…
Yas Marina marked the end of a thrilling season | Credit - F1 Academy
Headlines
Despite the short turnaround between races, there was still plenty of storylines heading into Abu Dhabi:
Scotland’s Logan Hannah would line up as the final wildcard driver of the season, partnering PREMA Racing for this round only. With experience in various F4 championships, how would she fare in F1 Academy?
PREMA Racing and Rodin Motorsport still had a team’s title to settle. Separated by just 28 points heading into the weekend, who would reign victorious?
F1 Academy have officially announced that the grid will expand to an 18 car field in 2025. Silverstone’s Hitech Grand Prix will join the roster, taking on two drivers and next year’s wildcard entries.
After a cancelled race in Qatar, Yas Marina would hold three F1 Academy races.
Sponsored by travel brand ‘Away’, Logan Hannah donned an exclusive livery and race attire | Credit - F1 Academy
Qualifying
With ten minutes on the clock, Pulling was leading the pack. Chloe Chambers was just behind though, the Haas driver looking particularly sharp around Yas Marina.
After a year of misfortune, Bianca Bustamante was another driver hoping to take a top-three position — a quick lap set her just 0.088s off Pulling herself. Doriane Pin soon shot into the upper echelons of the timing sheet, managing to clinch P2 before her lap was deleted due to track limits.
As the time ticked down, a blisteringly fast lap from Red Bull’s Hamda Al Qubaisi saw her take provisional pole. As a home race for the Emirati driver, she no doubt wanted this result to stick.
On the other hand, Pulling was back on the charge. Exceeding her own best time of 1:56.081, the Alpine driver clinched triple pole with a set of consistently fast laps.
Chambers secured the second front-row spot, with Hamda Al Qubaisi sitting third. McLaren’s Bustamante and Mercedes’ Pin took P4 and P5 respectively, no doubt slightly frustrated to narrowly miss out on the top-three.
Continuing with Race 1’s qualifying results, Weug finished P7. Nerea Martí and Carrie Schreiner sealed P8 and P9, in what will be their last weekend in F1 Academy. The top ten was rounded out by Lia Block.
The starting grid for Race 1 | Credit - F1 Academy
Race 1
A mega launch from Chambers saw her effortlessly sweep past Pulling, taking the lead into Turn 1. Pulling was quick to react though, applying the pressure onto her Haas rival.
Unexpectedly, Chambers took a spin into the Turn 9 runoff — leaving Pulling to inherit the lead and earning the American an unwelcomed 5-second penalty for her unsafe rejoin.
Behind Pulling, Hamda Al Qubaisi was matching her pace. Emely De Heus was running in P3, progressing two places up the grid since the race start. Though, that didn’t last too long. Pin was on a charge, and she wanted a spot on the podium.
Battles begun to break out further down the standings, with Tina Hausmann and Lola Lovinfosse dueling for P10. The duo made contact, earning Aston Martin’s Hausmann a collection of penalties. Lovinfosse soon found herself to be the one in tragedy, spinning after a slight incident with a charging Chambers.
Just another action-packed race for F1 Academy | Credit - F1 Academy
Out front, Pulling had done it again. Creating a 4.5 second gap, F1 Academy’s 2024 Champion crossed the finish line to take her eighth win of the season.
Pin had tried her hardest to force Hamda Al Qubaisi into a mistake, but the Emirati racer kept her cool to maintain P2.
While Pin rounded out the top-three, an ecstatic De Heus took P4 — marking the Red Bull Ford driver’s best finish of the year and bringing home a well-deserved points haul.
Bustamante took P5, followed to the finish line by Martí, Weug and Amna Al Qubaisi. Schreiner and Aurelia Nobels were the last of the point scorers, promoted up the leaderboard after Chambers and Hausmann’s penalties were applied.
The starting grid for Race 2 | Credit - F1 Academy
Race 2
A good launch from Pulling saw her maintain the lead, leading the grid off the line. Her advantage suffered when she experienced a mighty lock-up into Turn 6, allowing Chambers to sweep up the inside and clinch the lead.
A number of drivers had a poor start — Bustamante was one of them, the McLaren Junior sliding from P4 to P7. Eagle-eyed Pin took advantage, sweeping upto fourth in attempt to apply the pressure on Hamda Al Qubaisi. Although, the Parisian’s tyres were not in the best form.
Lovinfosse found herself at the centre of the drama once again, experiencing contact with Schreiner and forcing her into retirement. The Frenchwoman was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident, alongside Amna Al Qubaisi who had taken avoiding action.
An error from Chambers saw the American go deep into Turn 12. Of course, the reigning champion took advantage and reclaimed the race lead.
Weug and Martí were also dueling, the Ferrari driver managing to make her way past and into P5.
By lap 13, the yellow flags were waving. A collision between Rodin Motorsport teammates Lovinfosse and Jessica Edgar had caused commotion. Lovinfosse hit a kerb and a bollard, sustaining extensive damage to her front right suspension. Nobels had been clipped in the process, and somehow Edgar managed to limp back to a safer area of the circuit.
Lovinfosse’s stranded Charlotte Tilbury car meant the race ended under safety car. Pulling sailed to the checkered flag, taking a ninth win for the #9 car.
A trio of very happy drivers | Credit - F1 Academy
Chambers followed her home, with Hamda Al Qubaisi rounding out the top-three and taking consecutive home race podiums.
Pin and Weug took P4 and P5 respectively, while Martí kept Bustamante at bay for P6. A good run of form saw De Heus take P8, finishing just ahead of Hausmann.
Wildcard Logan Hannah was promoted to P10 once penalties had been applied to her rivals, taking home a single point for her efforts.
The starting grid for Race 3 | Credit - F1 Academy
Race 3
Come the final race of the year, Pulling had another epic start off the line with Chambers and Pin quickly slotting in behind her. Though, as they neared the first corner, the Haas and Mercedes drivers collided and were sent into a spin.
This allowed Hamda Al Qubaisi to slide upto P2, and for Weug to take on P3.
Sending it down the inside, the Ferrari-backed driver managed to overtake for P2 — there the charge began, as she began to apply the pressure on Pulling.
Drama ensued as a lock-up from Bustamante saw her skid into Hamda Al Qubaisi. In turn, the McLaren driver received a ten-second penalty.
By lap five, Weug was in striking distance. A well-thought execution paid off, snatching the lead and beginning to create a gap. By lap ten, this had extended to six seconds!
Elsewhere, Williams’ Lia Block had charged past Bustamante and Martí for P4. Although she still had a penalty to serve, she was eyeing up Al Qubaisi for P3.
A slight misjudgement saw her tap the Red Bull Junior’s rear, seeing the latter go flying and out of podium contention. Block was dealt a ten-second penalty for such action.
A perfect restart from Weug saw her clinch her first ever win in the F1 Academy series. From an incredible charge to a beautiful defence, it was a well-deserved celebration for the Ferrari driver.
The end of a stunning drive for Weug | Credit - F1 Academy
Pulling finished P2, with Martí rounding out the top-three. A bittersweet ending for the duo, who both took to the podium for their final race in F1 Academy.
Hausmann took a series-best result of P4, with Edgar taking home a respectable points haul in P5. Pin took P6 after penalties were applied ahead of her, with Schreiner, Lovinfosse and Nobels following suit. De Heus took the final point, making it three consecutive point-scoring outings in Abu Dhabi for the Dutchwoman.
Driver’s Championship
First-place in the Driver’s Championship was sealed by none-other than the incredible Abbi Pulling. In their debut F1 Academy seasons, Doriane Pin and Maya Weug finished their year in P2 and P3 — two well-earnt results for the PREMA duo.
In what was a slightly disappointing season for them both, Nerea Martí and Hamda Al Qubaisi will depart the series in P4 and P5 respectively.
Abbi Pulling — 338 pts
Doriane Pin — 217 pts
Maya Weug — 177 pts
Nerea Martí — 136 pts
Hamda Al Qubaisi — 133 pts
Team’s Championship
PREMA Racing truly earnt their team’s title, taking it for the second consecutive year in F1 Academy. Rodin Motorsport didn’t quite have the edge to compete with PREMA’s formidable trio, but it was a close fight until the end nonetheless.
An unfortunate season sees ART Grand Prix finish last, while MP Motorsport and Campos Racing also have work to do ahead of the upcoming season.
PREMA Racing— 425 pts
Rodin Motorsport— 385 pts
Campos Racing — 292 pts
MP Motorsport — 178 pts
ART Grand Prix — 146 pts
So, what’s next?
As sad as it might be, that’s the 2024 F1 Academy season over. From debut wins, epic wildcard performances and the crowning of an incredible champion, it’s been an absolutely wild ride and an honour to report on.
Your favourite all-female series will return in full-force next March, where a bumper 18 car grid will take on Shanghai, China!
Comments