F1 Academy: Doriane Pin takes victory, Abbi Pulling clinches the title in Qatar Race 1

Doriane Pin claimed a commanding lights-to-flag Race 1 victory in Qatar, but Abbi Pulling's calculated second place secured her the 2024 F1 Academy championship with three races to spare.

Photo credits: F1 Academy

Doriane Pin did everything in her power to keep her title hopes alive, dominating every session at Lusail during the penultimate round of the 2024 F1 Academy season. After securing both pole positions earlier in the day, the Mercedes AMG junior driver delivered a commanding lights-to-flag victory, maximizing every single point. However, it wasn’t enough to prevent Alpine Academy driver Abbi Pulling from clinching the championship with a superb second-place finish, crowning her the 2024 F1 Academy champion.

Pulling, whose worst result this season has been a third place at Zandvoort, has enjoyed a remarkable campaign, often unchallenged except on weekends where Pin shone, such as in Jeddah and Qatar. Her consistency proved pivotal: in her second year in the all-female championship, Pulling secured crucial points at the start of the penultimate round by climbing from third to second, wrapping up the title with three races to spare.

Pin, competing in her rookie single-seater season but with extensive endurance racing experience at the highest level, proved to be a worthy competitor and showcased her talent once again under the Lusail lights, remaining the standout performer of the weekend.

The stage was set for the first Qatari race, marking a crucial moment in the championship. With a 91-point deficit, Pin needed perfection to extend the title fight, while Pulling only required 14 points to seal the deal.

At the start, Pin made a flawless getaway to maintain her lead, while Pulling had a stunning launch, immediately challenging Maya Weug and overtaking the Ferrari Academy driver for second. Hamda Al Qubaisi also got off to a strong start, pressuring Weug after demoting Lia Block. The American, who had equalled her best qualifying result of the season, fell to sixth behind Wild Card Alisha Palmowski.

Further back, Bianca Bustamante looked to gain positions, battling Jessica Edgar for eighth. Chloe Chambers, recovering from a challenging qualifying session, began climbing the order alongside Amna Al Qubaisi, who was locked in a prolonged duel with MP Motorsport teammate Emely De Heus.

Pin quickly built a two-second lead by Lap 4, setting the fastest lap at 1:55.055 and pushing hard to claim the additional point for fastest lap. Pulling, however, focused on managing her race, holding a safe gap to Weug in third. Hamda Al Qubaisi, in fourth, had to defend against Palmowski, who showed impressive pace early on.

Chambers executed bold overtakes in the midfield, including a daring side-by-side move on Aurelia Nobels at Turn 1. Despite a five-second penalty for a jump start, she continued her charge, overtaking the Puma-sponsored driver with a close but fair maneuver. Nobels then came under pressure from De Heus, Schreiner, and Amna Al Qubaisi, all separated by mere tenths. Meanwhile, Tina Hausmann found her way past Lola Lovinfosse for 15th.

Palmowski, running a steady fifth, began to struggle with tyre degradation, allowing Block to close in. The American had defended well from Nerea Marti for all the opening part of the race, and now set her sights on Palmowski - but still had the Tommy Hilfiger-sponsored Campos car, as well as Edgar and Bustamante in close pursuit.

Bustamante’s charge unfortunately ended in a spin on Lap 11 after hitting a kerb, dropping her to the back and promoting Nobels back into the points.

The final laps saw fierce battles for the midfield positions. Chambers made a stunning double overtake on Marti and Edgar for seventh but was ultimately demoted to 11th due to her penalty.

At the front, Doriane Pin completed a perfect race, taking victory with the fastest lap. Pulling crossed the line seven seconds behind, unchallenged in second place, to seal the championship.

Maya Weug secured her seventh podium of the season and fifth consecutive one in third place. Hamda Al Qubaisi finished fourth, while Alisha Palmowski impressed on her debut, claiming fifth as the second Wild Card driver this season to achieve a top-five finish.

The British 19-year-old, already Vice-Champion in GB4 Championship on her single seater debut year, held off Lia Block, as the Williams Academy driver still recorded a highly positive sixth place finish.

Jessica Edgar grabbed seventh, ahead of Nerea Marti and Aurelia Nobels; Emely De Heus scored the final point, in her third point-scoring race of the season, following Chambers' penalty.

The winner of Barcelona's second race in fact couldn't capitalize on her pace and spectacular overtakes due to a challenging qualifying and the 5 second time penalty - who also hit Tina Hausmann, costing the Swiss racer 14th place. Carrie Schreiner was P12, crossing the line one tenth ahead of Amna Al Qubaisi, who couldn't snatch the position despite a good attack in the end. Lola Lovinfosse was 14th and Hausmann 15th, with Bustamante being denied points by the spin mid-race.

With this result, Abbi Pulling becomes the second-ever F1 Academy champion, succeeding Marta García. She also earns a fully funded drive in the 2025 GB4 Championship with Rodin Motorsport - the team that brought the 21 year old British racer to the crown as well as to her maiden British F4 victory earlier this year.

In the battle for third in the standings, Maya Weug now holds a 30-point lead over Nerea Marti, whose eighth-place finish moved her ahead of teammate Chambers. Hamda Al Qubaisi, with her strong result, is now just four points behind in this competitive fight.

As the championship title is now decided, all eyes turn to Race 2 tomorrow: Doriane Pin, starting from pole again, will aim to continue her flawless weekend, while Maya Weug and newly crowned champion Abbi Pulling promise tough competition. Race 2 is scheduled for 14:00 local time.

Photo credits: F1 Academy