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F1 Academy took to the streets of Singapore for Round 4 of the 2024 season that saw a brief Safety Car and a dominant performance from the championship leader.
The F1 Academy weekend in Singapore began with Abbi Pulling setting the fastest time in the only free practice session. In Qualifying, Pulling continued driving with pace in the Alpine-liveried car as she secured double pole position for both Race 1 and Race 2.
Race 1 saw Maya Weug line up on the front row alongside the British driver. But it was Pulling who took a lights to flag victory, stretching her championship lead over title rival, Doriane Pin, by 82 points.
However, for Race 2, Weug and Pin swapped places on the starting grid. But despite starting P2, Pin was unable to beat Pulling as the Alpine Academy driver did the double in Singapore and took her seventh victory of the 2024 F1 Academy season.
Lights Out
When the lights went out on the grid, it was a clean start that saw Pulling keep the lead into Turn 1. But Pin and Weug started a battle immediately as Weug got ahead of the Mercedes Junior driver going down to Turn 1. They then went wheel to wheel throughout the opening lap as Pin fought to get back into P2.
All the field completed the opening lap without any incidents, despite Carrie Schreiner going off the track for a brief moment. The Sauber-backed driver did manage to carry on and actually made up a place by overtaking Bianca Bustamante.
With Weug having managed to defend against Pin, Lia Block began chasing down Pin as Chloe Chambers, who was in P10 after lap 1, went on the offense to overtake Bustamante.
Ella Lloyd, who received a five-second penalty in Race 1, was hoping for a cleaner race in Race 2. And after making up a position on the start, she began putting the pressure on Hamda Al Qubaisi.
A replay of the start showed that Aurelia Nobels hit the wall but she managed to carry on and there was no significant damage to her PUMA-liveried car.
Safety Car
A Safety Car was deployed as Bustamante spun on lap 4. The McLaren-backed driver got going once again at the back of the pack.
The Safety Car has been deployed after Bianca Bustamante spins. #F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/zMNH3zbhn6
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) September 22, 2024
But the Safety Car meant that Pulling had more work to do as the pack closed up ahead of the restart.
Safety Car Restart
When the Safety Car came in, Pulling rounded the final turns of the track, and went early on the restart. Weug was right behind Pulling as Pin was left behind slightly.
But just outside the podium places, Nerea Martí put the pressure on Block, who had a slight gap to Pin ahead. Meanwhile, Lloyd was less than a second behind H.Al Qubaisi and Chambers was eager to overtake Schreiner.
Another replay showed contact between Bustamante and Hausman. Bustamante was on the outside of Turn 1 but was lifted into the air after contact with Hausman. Hausman then came into the pits on lap 6. The PREMA Racing team instructed Hausman to stay in the car as it was likely that she’d get a penalty for the collision. A 10-second penalty was given to Hausman with five laps to go.
Back up front, Pulling had created a gap to Weug whilst Pin was chasing down the Ferrari-backed driver to retake P2. Chambers, who came into the weekend third in the championship, continued to put the pressure on Schreiner.
Chloe Chambers is hot on Carrie Schreiner's heels as she fights for P8.#F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/iKiN7BXBER
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) September 22, 2024
Final few laps
With three laps to go, Pulling set another fastest lap as the gap between her and Weug slowly increased. Chambers finally got ahead of Schreiner to take P8.
Nobels was also on the charge as she overtook Lola Lovinfosse and tired her hand at getting ahead of Amna Al Qubaisi. Emely de Heus, who’d had quite a quiet race, radioed that Schreiner brake-tested her. Nothing was noted by Race Control at the time.
But when the drivers crossed the finish line, it was as it was yesterday for the podium-sitters.
Results
F1 Academy in Singapore marks a weekend to remember for Pulling. The British driver achieved her second victory of the weekend at the Marina Bay Circuit, finishing over three seconds ahead of Weug.
There's the chequered flag! ?
Abbi Pulling sails across the line with a gap of over 3 seconds to Maya Weug#F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/MXL6iGFrEE
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) September 22, 2024
The top 10 point-finishers of Race 2 were as follows:
1 – Abbi Pulling
2 – Maya Weug
3 – Doriane Pin
4 – Lia Block
5 – Nerea Martí
6 – Hamda Al Qubaisi
7 – Ella Lloyd
8 – Chloe Chambers
9 – Carrie Schreiner
10 – Emely de Heus
In terms of the championship, Pin was still second, 30 points ahead of Weug in third, but Pulling now had a 95-point lead to Pin. The next race is at the end of November in Qatar.
Feature Image: X @F1Academy