Nine drivers will depart F1 Academy, while the status of five others remains unconfirmed.
Each season features 15 identical cars, increasing to 16 when a Wild Card entry is included. This occurred in five of the seven races during the 2024 season.
The 2024 F1 Academy season concludes in Abu Dhabi
F1 Academy is a single-seater racing series for female drivers, launched by Formula 1 in 2023.
For the 2024 season, the series joined the F1 calendar for seven weekends. Races occurred in Jeddah, Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, and Qatar.
The season finale takes place this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
WE’RE BACK!
Abu Dhabi, it’s your turn 🇦🇪#F1Academy #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/R0uZF9ZAbn
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) December 5, 2024
The championship aims to provide young female drivers with track time, exposure, and development opportunities needed to progress to higher levels of motorsport.
These are opportunities that have often been limited elsewhere. They can be on or off track.
A unique feature of F1 Academy is its two-season cap for drivers.
As a result, several competitors from the inaugural season who returned in 2024 will bid farewell to the series this weekend, marking the end of their journey in this championship.
Who Leaves?
Nine drivers will depart the series out of fifteen.
While Abbi Pulling (Alpine) will have completed her second season this year, she would have departed regardless after winning the Championship in Qatar.
However, as Race 2 was cancelled due to a damaged barrier, the Briton must reclaim her title this weekend. She holds an 83-point lead over Doriane Pin in second place. If she fails to score a single point this weekend, Pin will be crowned champion.
The winner will secure a fully-funded seat in GB3 with Rodin Motorsport. They will additionally receive 20 days of testing in the GB3 car.
Nerea Martí (Tommy Hilfiger), Hamda Al Qubaisi (Red Bull Racing), Bianca Bustamante (McLaren), Jessica Edgar (American Express), Carrie Schreiner (Kick Sauber), Lola Lovinfosse (Charlotte Tilbury), Amna Al Qubaisi (RB) and Emely De Heus (Red Bull Ford) will also depart F1 Academy.
Since the 2023 campaign, the departing drivers have scored 19 wins, 14 pole positions, and 35 podiums on the second or third step.
READ MORE: Abu Dhabi Showdown: Can Pulling Reclaim Her Crown in the F1 Academy Finale?
Those Unconfirmed
Maya Weug (Ferrari), Doriane Pin (Mercedes), Lia Block (Williams), Tina Hausmann (Aston Martin), and Aurelia Nobels (PUMA) are the five unconfirmed drivers for the 2025 season.
Drivers who joined F1 Academy this year do not need to depart. The two-season cap applies only after completing two years in the series. The championship frequently announces its participants, so fans will not have to wait long to find out which, if any, drivers will return next year.
However, Pin has shared a cryptic post on her social media. The French driver could move on to bigger opportunities if she retains second place in the series after Race 3 on Sunday. It is unlikely Pulling will go pointless and Pin will win the series.
Beyond F1 Academy, she has pre-existing experience in the European Le Man Series, WEC & IMSA, Formula 4, and FRECA. She is also a member of the Iron Dames.
Lena Bühler finished the 2023 F1 Academy season in second place and debuted in the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) alongside the inaugural season winner Marta García in 2024 – a path Pin might follow. Pin raced alongside García for the Iron Dames.
ONE TO GO 🤍
Let’s make it a weekend to remember! #F1Academy #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/Cf7U6SEym0
— PIN DORIANE (@DorianePin) December 5, 2024
However, ‘one to go’ could refer to the 2024 season itself, not her participation in the championship.
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Who Remains?
Chloe Chambers is one of the fifteen drivers from 2024 confirmed for 2025.
The American currently represents Haas in her debut season. This partnership saw her claim her maiden victory in Race 2 at Barcelona – Haas’ first-ever victory. She has also secured two further podium finishes.
Next year, she will transfer to Red Bull Ford, replacing De Heus.
The 2025 Grid
Six drivers are confirmed for F1 Academy in 2025. These are Chloe Chambers (Red Bull Ford), Ella Lloyd (McLaren), Rafaela Ferreira (RB), Courtney Crone (Haas), Alba Hurup Larsen (Tommy Hilfiger), and Nina Gademan (Alpine).
Crone and Gademan were 2024 Wild Card entrants. Fellow Wild Cards Alisha Palmowski (Qatar) and Logan Hannah (Abu Dhabi) could join them on the 2025 grid.
The remaining nine drivers will be confirmed in due course.
F1 Academy’s 2025 season will begin in China at the Shanghai International Circuit from March 21 to 23.
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