As Last Word On Sports looks back on 2024, we look to the 2024 F1 Academy Season, which made history and crowned Abbi Pulling as its Champion.
A Season of Domination and Successful Change
The 2024 F1 Academy season delivered thrilling racing, emerging talent, and a title fight that saw one driver dominate, cementing its position as a key platform for developing future women in motorsport.
Spanning seven rounds across iconic circuits alongside F1, the season highlighted the skills of 15 talented drivers while showcasing the excitement that fans have come to expect.
Team and Driver Changes
After a change in ownership, Rodin Motorsport re-joined the Championship as the rebranded iteration of Rodin Carlin.
Prema Racing introduced a new line-up, featuring Mercedes Junior Team driver Doriane Pin, Ferrari Driver Academy member Maya Weug, and Aston Martin representative Tina Hausmann.
Champions! 🏆
PREMA Racing takes the top spot in the F1 Academy 2024 Team Standings! #F1Academy #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/bVaE2GhwsW
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) December 8, 2024
These changes followed the graduation of 2023 Champion Marta García to the Formula Regional European Championship, Chloe Chong’s move to British F4, and Bianca Bustamante’s switch to ART Grand Prix.
Megan Gilkes announced her retirement from professional racing, leaving Rodin Motorsport to welcome Lola Lovinfosse from Campos Racing.
ART Grand Prix also changed, with Léna Bühler advancing to the Formula Regional European Championship and Bustamante joining as part of McLaren’s Driver Development Programme. Lia Block and Aurelia Nobels rounded out ART’s new team.
Campos Racing replaced Lovinfosse and Maite Cáceres with Carrie Schreiner from ART and Haas’s young driver Chloe Chambers.
Here is how the teams fared in 2024:
After a season-long battle, PREMA Racing take the Teams’ Title! ⭐️
Here are the final Team Standings after an epic season finale in Abu Dhabi! 🏆 #F1Academy #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/MwURd5b5TM
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) December 8, 2024
Prema retained their Team Championship.
Introduction of the Wild Card
The introduction of Wild Card entries added another element to the series’ focus on expanding the female talent pool in motorsport.
Drivers such as Reema Juffali, Courtney Crone, Nina Gademan, Ella Lloyd, Alicia Palmowski, and Logan Hannah were introduced on a different race weekend.
Crone (Haas), Gademan (Alpine), and Lloyd (McLaren) will each compete in the 2025 Championship. The initiative worked in terms of adding exposure to drivers who needed it.
READ MORE: 2025 F1 Academy Lineup: Alisha Palmowski Returns with Red Bull
Abbi Pulling’s Championship Triumph
Abbi Pulling emerged as the standout performer, dominating the championship. She presented a level of consistency unmatched by her rivals.
Starting the season strongly in Jeddah, Pulling kept her momentum through Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, and Singapore, claiming a tally of race wins and pole positions. She holds the series record with nine wins.
Pulling’s main challenges were Doriane Pin and Maya Weug, both of whom showed flashes of brilliance. However, they struggled to match Pulling’s consistency.
Here’s how the overall Driver Standings look after the final showdown in Abu Dhabi! 🇦🇪
What a season it’s been! 🌟
#F1Academy #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/9SaFPePl3Z
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) December 8, 2024
New for 2024 was the addition of FIA Super Licence Points for the top five classified drivers. Pulling received 10 Super Licence points, while Pin and Weug received seven and five points respectively.
Three points were awarded to Nerea Martí. Hamda Al Qubaisi received one point.
Season Highlights
Jeddah: A Season Opener Full of Intrigue
The first round in Jeddah set the tone for the 2024 season. Pin’s commanding performance in Race 1 was followed by a chaotic Race 2.
A penalty for an unusual misjudgement at the chequered flag for Pin saw Pulling take her first win.
This was the beginning of a title fight.
Weug and Wild Card driver Juffali added to the spectacle with spirited drives and collisions that highlighted struggles on the street circuit.
Miami: Pulling in Control
At the Miami International Autodrome, Pulling stamped her authority with back-to-back wins, showcasing her ability to handle pressure and capitalise on rivals’ mistakes.
Notable performances from Chambers, who secured her first podium, and Bustamante, who recovered from setbacks to claim the fastest lap, hinted at a season rich with emerging talent.
Barcelona: European Beginnings
The European races began in Barcelona, where Pulling extended her winning streak.
However, the weekend also marked a turning point for Chambers, who claimed her maiden victory in Race 2, the first for Haas.
This circuit’s technical demands emphasised strategy and racecraft, with incidents involving Weug and Amna Al Qubaisi further heating the competition.
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Zandvoort: Wet-Weather Masterclass
Adverse weather at Zandvoort tested the drivers’ adaptability, with Pulling once again proving her prowess in tricky conditions.
Pin redeemed herself in Race 2 with a flawless performance, reigniting her championship challenge.
Meanwhile, Gademan became the first wildcard to score points, a testament to the series’ inclusivity and opportunities for local talent.
Singapore
Pulling demonstrated unwavering dominance, taking both victories. It seemed nothing could stop the Briton.
Pin faced challenges with penalties but remained a contender in the title race.
Qatar
Pin triumphed in Race 1. This win was not enough to prevent Pulling from securing enough points to become the 2024 Champion.
However, the cancellation of Race 2 due to barrier repairs highlighted the logistical challenges of the series.
F2 and F1 went ahead as planned and a third race was added to the F1 Academy Abu Dhabi schedule.
Pulling’s Championship was stripped of her due to the points available for Pin in the final three races.
Abu Dhabi
The Drivers’ title was already decided after Qualifying after Pulling put her car on pole for all three races. As a result, the final round’s focus shifted to the team battles.
While Pulling won Race 1 and 2, Weug’s maiden victory in Race 3 secured the Teams’ Championship for Prema, concluding the season on a high note.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The 2024 F1 Academy Season underlined the series’ growing prominence in motorsport.
Abbi Pulling’s dominance earned her the championship title, while Maya Weug, Doriane Pin, and Chloe Chambers offered glimpses of the future.
The introduction of Wild Card entries and FIA Super Licence points positioned the series as essential to F1’s ecosystem.
With a mix of emerging talents and competitive action, F1 Academy continues to inspire and elevate women in motorsport.
Long may Susie Wolff continue.
READ NEXT: How Did Abbi Pulling Become the 2024 F1 Academy Champion?
