Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: F1 Academy Race 3 Results

The Teams’ Championship is still all to play for at the Yas Marina Circuit

James Fiorucci 3 min read

Can Champion Abbi Pulling finish her year in style in the final race of the 2024 F1 Academy season?

Pulling (right) crossed the finish line ahead of Chloe Chambers (left) in Race 2 on Saturday (Image Credit: @f1academy on X)

After having a third race added to the Yas Island round of the calendar following the cancellation of Race 2 at the preceding round in Lusail, Pulling’s World Champion status was rescinded as she didn’t have enough of an advantage in the Standings.

However, it didn’t take long for the Rodin Motorsport and Alpine Academy driver to be recrowned, as she dominated proceedings in Race 1 to put cement her position as 2024 F1 Academy Champion.

Race 2 went much the same way, although Pulling had to work hard to keep the chasing pack behind her. In the end, the Briton finished just under 0.4 seconds ahead of American Chloe Chambers and less than a second ahead of third-placed Hamda Al Qubaisi.

While the Drivers’ Championship is well and truly decided, the Team’s Championship can still be won by two different outfits. Prema Racing are 18 points ahead of Rodin Motorsport; with a maximum of 59 points on offer for a single team in Race 3 the order can still change.

Pulling will be hoping to make it a trio of wins this weekend to help Rodin close the gap to the Italian team. Meanwhile, Doriane Pin and Maya Weug will be snapping at the Champion’s heels to keep Prema on top in the Standings. Who will win in the final race of this year’s F1 Academy campaign? Read on to find out.

Starting grid

Lights out

14 laps of racing got underway as the lights went out. This time, Pulling was able to maintain the lead into the first corner, while Pin pulled alongside Chambers for P2. However, disaster struck between the pair, as contact was made which resulted in both dropping to the rear of the field. Chambers eventually came into the pits for a front wing change.

The chaos allowed home favourite Hamda Al Qubaisi to climb up to second, while Weug moved up to the final podium position. Lap two saw Weug attempt a move up the inside of Al Qubaisi of Turn 6, making it stick to claim second position. Battling continued between the pair, allowing Nerea Marti in P4 to close in.

Weug next set her sights on Pulling for the lead of the race, attempting an overtake on lap three but failing to complete the pass. At the start of the fourth tour, the top four were separated by less than a single second.

The race progresses

Bianca Bustamante locked up her front tyres into Turn 5, careening into the side of Al Qubaisi and dropping down to P6 behind Emely de Heus. Meanwhile, Weug continued to pressure Pulling for the lead, and got ahead into Turn 6 on lap five. However, Pulling cut the following corner and stayed ahead of the Dutchwoman.

The following lap saw three drivers side-by-side into Turn 6; in the end Weug claimed P1 from Pulling with Al Qubaisi failing to make the chicane and dropping to third. At this stage of the race, Prema were in prime position to claim the Teams’ Championship.

Weug extended her lead over Pulling, the latter beginning to struggle. The gap grew to over two seconds by the end of lap seven. Al Qubaisi was stuck to the rear of Pulling in P2, the latter leading a train of cars ending all the way down with Logan Hannah in P15.

Al Qubaisi pulled alongside Pulling along the back straight on lap nine, but couldn’t make the move stick.

Closing stages

At the front of the field, Weug increased her lead to over five seconds. Lia Block performed an impressive overtake on Bustamante for fifth on the road on the tenth lap. Bustamante had earlier received a ten-second penalty and would likely not be able to score points in the final race of the season.

Another great move by Block on the very next lap, as she went around the outside of Marti at Turn 14 to claim fourth position. Lap 12 saw Hamda Al Qubaisi spin on the exit of the chicane after Block hit her car in the rear. This allowed Block to move into the podium positions, but she received a ten-second time penalty which promoted Marti back into P3.

The Safety Car was released onto the circuit, which eradicated Weug’s lead. There would only be one more lap of racing. Weug performed the restart to perfection, gaining over a second’s advantage over Pulling at the start of the final lap.

In the end, Weug saw the chequered flag first ahead of Pulling. Block crossed the line third on the road, but her penalty meant Marti claimed the final step on the podium.

Prema Racing were crowned Teams’ Champions.

Final race classification

1. Maya Weug

2. Abbi Pulling

3. Nerea Marti

4. Tina Hausmann

5. Jessica Edgar

6. Doriane Pin

7. Carrie Schreiner

8. Lola Lovinfosse

9. Aurelia Nobels

10. Emely de Heus

11. Hamda Al Qubaisi

12. Logan Hannah

13. Amna Al Qubaisi

14. Bianca Bustamante

15. Lia Block

16. Chloe Chambers

Full results TBA.

Championship Standings

TBA

Feature Image Credit: @f1academy on X

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