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Will a 2024 F1 Academy Champion be Crowned in Qatar?

Much-needed points are up for grabs as the 2024 F1 Academy season heads to Qatar in the first of two final races.

F1 Academy approaches the end of its second running season

As the 2024 F1 Academy season concludes, the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar hosts a high-stakes weekend where the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships hang in the balance.

Here is everything to watch out for as the 2024 campaign begins its closing rounds.

The 2024 Drivers’ Championship: Pulling vs Pin

Alpine’s Abbi Pulling stands close to winning her first motorsport title, becoming an F1 Academy Champion. After back-to-back victories in Singapore, the Rodin Motorsport driver holds a 95-point lead over Mercedes’ Doriane Pin.

With 112 points still available, Pulling can clinch the F1 Academy title by securing 18 points in Qatar. This stands regardless of Pin’s results.

Pulling’s path to glory, and the GB3 seat, looks clear-cut. A win, a second-place finish, or even a third-place finish with Pole and the fastest lap would secure her the title in Race 1. Victory would also see her surpass 2023 F1 Academy champion Marta García‘s record of seven wins in a season.

Yet, Lusail’s 5.4km layout may favour Pin and Prema’s set-up, which topped the timesheets during recent in-season testing. The evening races’ cooler conditions set the stage for a close battle under the Qatari lights with each driver ready for the fight.

READ MORE: F2 Qatar Preview: Racing into Uncertainty

Teams’ Title on a Knife-Edge

While the Drivers’ Championship could be decided this weekend, the Teams’ title remains wide open. Prema Racing lead Rodin Motorsport by a seven-point margin, with Campos Racing sitting 59 points adrift.

With 122 points on offer, every result could alter the race.

Prema houses Pin, Aston Martin junior Tina Hausmann, and Ferrari Academy’s Maya Weug. Rodin Motorsport backs Pulling, Charlotte Tilbury ambassador Lola Lovinfosse, and American Express-sponsored Jessica Edgar.

Meanwhile, Campos Racing is set to charge with Haas’ Chloe Chambers, Sauber Academy’s Carrie Schreiner, and Tommy Hilfiger-supported Nerea Martí.

The internal team rivalry at Prema adds another layer of spectacle for fans. Pin and Weug sit second and third in the standings, respectively, with Weug chasing her maiden victory and a chance to edge past her teammate in the final two races.

Their performances, alongside Campos drivers Chambers and Martí, will be pivotal in shaping the final standings.

Chambers looks to secure a win for Haas before the American transfers to Red Bull Ford for the 2025 season.

For Martí, this is her final year, therefore it all counts in Qatar as she bids goodbye to the Championship. 

Position Driver Team Points
1 Abbi Pulling Rodin Motorsport 245
2 Doriane Pin Prema Racing 150
3 Meya Weug Prema Racing 120
4 Chloe Chambers Campos Racing 103
5 Nerea Martí Campos Racing 101
6 Hamda Al Qubaisi MP Motorsport 87
7 Bianca Bustamante ART Grand Prix 57
8 Lia Block ART Grand Prix 36
9 Carrie Schreiner Campos Racing 24
10 Jessica Edgar Rodin Motorsport 22
11 Aurelia Nobels Prema Racing 16
12 Tina Hausmann ART Grand Prix 13
13 Nina Gademan* Prema Racing* 13*
14 Lola Lovinfosse Rodin Motorsport 13
15 Amna Al Qubaisi MP Motorsport 12
16 Emely De Heus MP Motorsport 10
17 Ella Lloyd* Prema Racing* 8*
17 Courtney Crone* Prema Racing* 0*
18 Reema Juffali* Prema Racing* 0*

* = Wild Card entry.

Lia Block Eyes the Podium

Williams junior Lia Block has found a steady rise to form throughout the 2024 F1 Academy season. After an impressive Singapore outing, where she secured her best-ever Qualifying and a 24-point haul, the American heads to Qatar with momentum to build on.

Although a win might remain elusive, Block’s ART Grand Prix team could finally break their podium drought, with Block leading their charge.

This could also set Block up for a potential 2025 seat, remaining with Williams or heading elsewhere for a second season. She has shown promise.

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Wild Card Entry: Alisha Palmowski

British driver Alisha Palmowski joins the grid as the latest Wild Card entrant. Fresh from a standout debut season in the GB4 Championship, the 18-year-old has already showcased her pace during testing, regularly challenging the top six.

Lusail marks her first race outside the UK and her debut on the F1 stage. This could also be the first time a Wild Card driver steps atop the podium.

Session Times and How to Watch

All session times are set in GMT+3.

You can catch every moment live on the F1 Academy YouTube channel, via X (f1academy) alongside your local provider for F1.

With titles on the line and history within reach for Abbi Pulling, this penultimate round could redefine the season.

READ NEXT: Will McLaren Win the Constructors’ Title at the Qatar GP?

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