{"id":27738,"date":"2024-12-05T13:36:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T18:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=27738"},"modified":"2024-12-05T13:53:19","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T18:53:19","slug":"abu-dhabi-showdown-can-pulling-reclaim-her-crown-in-the-f1-academy-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/05\/abu-dhabi-showdown-can-pulling-reclaim-her-crown-in-the-f1-academy-finale\/","title":{"rendered":"Abu Dhabi Showdown: Can Pulling Reclaim Her Crown in the F1 Academy Finale?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The stage is set for the grand finale! After six thrilling rounds, the action-packed F1 Academy season comes to an end electrifying close in Abu Dhabi.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the 2024 season campaign wraps up, the Yas Marina Circuit takes centre stage for the ultimate showdown. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the final points on the line, let&#8217;s dive into the key storylines that promise to keep you hooked throughout Round 7.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The season finale in Yas Marina: The Final Chapter awaits<\/h2>\n<p>At the Qatar Grand Prix, last weekend, Abbi Pulling was crowned F1 Academy champion.<\/p>\n<p>Representing Alpine and Rodin Motorsport, Pulling has delivered an extraordinary season, securing seven wins out of eleven races and standing on the podium in every single outing. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/10\/07\/the-domination-of-abbi-pulling-in-f1-academy\/\" target=\"_self\">Her dominance has been nothing short of remarkable<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, the title has been stripped from her due to a third Abu Dhabi race being added to the weekend&#8217;s schedule.<\/p>\n<p>Doriane Pin still has a chance to win the title.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Mercedes junior will have to replicate her Qatar performance. The Frenchwoman will need to earn every pole position and race win along with the fastest lap to snatch the title from Pulling.<\/p>\n<p data-slot-rendered-content=\"true\">Pulling on the other hand only needs to score one point this weekend to reclaim her championship in the season finale in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n<p data-slot-rendered-content=\"true\"><a id=\"a7I_jS1vQgx43s8XHLc10g\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2158753446\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'a7I_jS1vQgx43s8XHLc10g',sig:'Llpoy6AUR0EG7d8lm0IwgmkupdHOe9HT6LiI0QMqm0Q=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2158753446',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>Bidding farewell as nine drivers prepare to leave F1 Academy<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">F1 Academy is about to bid farewell to some of its most familiar faces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nine drivers have concluded their maximum two-season stints.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abbi Pulling, Nerea Mart\u00ed, Hamda Al Qubaisi, Bianca Bustamante, Jessica Edgar, Carrie Schreiner, Lola Lovinfosse, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.f1academy.com\/Latest\/7m2tiKWWh4HBFSGaVDwCfL\/a-phenomenal-farewell-amna-al-qubaisi-hoping-to-keep-inspiring-young-women\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amna Al Qubaisi<\/a> and Emely De Heus are all gearing up for their final chapter in the series.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But before they say goodbye, they have one last chance to leave their mark on the track this weekend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the series&#8217; inaugural season in 2023, this talented group has collectively achieved 19 wins, 14 pole positions and 35 podium finishes, each shaping the legacy of F1 Academy in their own ways.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>The Main battles to watch out for at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP<\/h4>\n<p>Pulling leads the standings by 83 points. If the Alpine driver doesn&#8217;t score a single point this weekend, Pin will be the 2024 F1 Academy champion.<\/p>\n<p>However, the chances of the ever-so-dominant Pulling not scoring points this weekend are very slim.<\/p>\n<p>There is another intense battle further down the standings, particularly for positions 3 and 4.<\/p>\n<p>Ferrari&#8217;s Maya Weug holds third place with a solid 135 points, but the competition is fierce just behind her. Nerea Mart\u00ed (P4), Chloe Chambers (P5) and Hamda Al Qubaisi (P6) are separated by six points, leaving the fight wide open.<\/p>\n<p>A single misstep from Weug could allow any of the three to challenge for third and with such tight margins, their final positions remain anyone&#8217;s guess.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PREMA Racing is in a strong position to defend its Teams&#8217; title as the season heads into its final round. The Italian team holds a 28-point lead over their closest rivals, Rodin Motorsport, while Campos Racing sit a distant third, trailing PREMA by 100 points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/01\/f1-academy-doriane-pin-dominates-qatar-abbi-pulling-crowned-champion\/\" target=\"_self\">Doriane Pin&#8217;s double pole and Race 1 victory<\/a>, combined with Maya Weug&#8217;s third-place finish, helped extend PREMA&#8217;s lead by 24 points, with Rodin&#8217;s Abbi Pulling and Jessica Edgar securing second and seventh place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While PREMA remain the favourite, the championship battle is far from decided. With 252 points still up for grabs, the standings could shift dramatically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> At the other end of the Teams&#8217; Championship, the battle for fourth is incredibly tight. Just three points separating ART Grand Prix in fourth (125 points) and MP Motorsport in fifth (122 points).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>READ MORE<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/05\/a-championship-decider-will-mark-the-2024-abu-dhabi-grand-prix\/\" target=\"_self\">A Championship Decider Will Mark the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Who will claim the final trophies this season?<\/h4>\n<p>Seven drivers have stood on the podium in the last 11 races.<\/p>\n<p>Lia Block, in eighth place, is the highest-ranked driver without a trophy.<\/p>\n<p>PREMA lead with 14 podiums, followed by Rodin with 11. Campos have six, while ART and MP each have one.<\/p>\n<p>Pulling has shown the strongest pace in testing, consistently setting the fastest times. Doriane Pin was her closest rival, three-tenths behind on her best lap.<\/p>\n<p>Hamda Al Qubaisi is also a contender. With five top-three session results out of six, she is aiming for her first podium since Barcelona.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"6X47llIeSpZ4rgd8U9dnKQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2158559565\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'6X47llIeSpZ4rgd8U9dnKQ',sig:'ND8FgWN3EZHL4ENbUpWjWcnlW7hRWQbmuOnDpA9kLNI=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2158559565',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>What&#8217;s new for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">F1 Academy will make its first-ever appearance at the Yas Marina Circuit. During in-season testing (18-20 October) the drivers already got acquainted with the track.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Renowned as one the most iconic venues in the Middle East and the most expensive circuit ever constructed, Abu Dhabi&#8217;s Yas Marina Circuit guarantees a spectacular showdown, no matter the racing series.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This uniquely flat track stretches 3.005 km and offers drivers a challenging mix of features.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its standout elements include an unconventional pitlane exit that runs beneath the circuit and a 1.2 km straight nestled between two tight corners &#8211; perfectly designed to create prime overtaking opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Wild Card Entry: Logan Hannah<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scottish driver <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.f1academy.com\/Latest\/20VoNvYHQZbjiOcrF7P5xZ\/f1-academy-partners-with-away-to-support-wild-card-entry-logan-hannah-at\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Logan Hannah will join the grid as the final Wild Card driver of the season<\/a>. She follows several others who have since secured F1 Team support and full-time seats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2017 she became the first female driver to compete in the Formula 4 UAE series.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Earlier this year Hannah took to the track for the first time in an F1 Academy car during an Official Test at the Yas Marina Circuit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis is an incredible opportunity for me to race on an unparalleled platform. As someone who loves to travel and experience new places, it\u2019s amazing to be supported by a brand like Away that not only celebrates exploration but is also dedicated to empowering women.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m excited to take on this challenge in Abu Dhabi, where I grew up karting and my career began, knowing I\u2019m part of a mission to help create opportunities for the next generation of women in motorsport. I also want to say a personal thank you, Susie [Wolff], the entire F1 ACADEMY team, and Away for this opportunity.\u201d <strong>&#8211; Logan Hannah.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>The Wild Card initiative was introduced to strengthen the talent pool in some of the regions that F1 Academy has raced in this season.<\/p>\n<p>Five drivers have showcased their skills through this initiative, gaining valuable experience in F1 Academy machinery.<\/p>\n<p>Due to its success, all but two of the Wild Card entries that participated before Abu Dhabi will continue in 2025 with 14 races across all seven rounds.<\/p>\n<p>These races will take place on three continents, supporting the FIA Formula One World Championship.<\/p>\n<p><strong>YOU MAY ALSO LIKE<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/04\/2025-f1-academy-lineup-nina-gademan-to-drive-for-alpine\/\" target=\"_self\">2025 F1 Academy Lineup: Nina Gademan to Drive for Alpine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h4>What time is the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The season finale brings an updated schedule. It features an additional race to compensate for the cancellation of the second race in Lusail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three victories, and both titles on the line, the action begins on Friday with Free Practice at 09:50 local time (GMT +4).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Qualifying kicks off at 18:35, where drivers&#8217; fastest, second-fastest and third-best times will determine the starting grids for Races 1, 2 and 3.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saturday promises double the excitement with Race 1 starting at 12:15, followed by a thrilling nighttime Race 2 at 20:15. The season concludes on Sunday with Race 3 at 11:15.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each race will span 14 laps or 30 minutes plus one lap. Full points will be awarded to the winner, scaling down to a single point for the 10th place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Friday, 6th December\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free Practice: 09:50 &#8211; 10:30 local time (05:50 &#8211; 06:30 GMT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Qualifying: 18:35 &#8211; 19:05 local time (14:35 &#8211; 15:05 GMT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Saturday, 7th December\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Race 1: 12:15 &#8211; 12:45 local time (08:15 &#8211; 08:45 GMT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Race 2: 20:15 &#8211; 20:45 local time (16:15 &#8211; 16: 45 GMT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Sunday, 8th December\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Race 3: 11:15 &#8211; 11:45 local time (07:15 &#8211; 07:45 GMT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The temperatures are expected to hover between 16\u00b0C and 29\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/05\/f2-championship-set-for-thrilling-finale-in-abu-dhabi\/\" target=\"_self\">F2 Championship Set for Thrilling Finale in Abu Dhabi<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The stage is set for the grand finale! After six thrilling rounds, the action-packed F1 Academy season comes to an end electrifying close in Abu Dhabi.\u00a0\u00a0 As the 2024 season campaign wraps up, the Yas Marina Circuit takes centre stage for the ultimate showdown. With the final points on the line, let&#8217;s dive into the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5363,"featured_media":25097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2020,2],"tags":[1678,2023,1991,2063,1772,2266,1773,2040,2083,2339,701,1724,112,2043,1061],"class_list":["post-27738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1-academy","category-featured","tag-abbi-pulling","tag-bianca-bustamante","tag-campos-racing","tag-carrie-schreiner","tag-chloe-chambers","tag-doriane-pin","tag-hamda-al-qubasi","tag-jessica-edgar","tag-lola-lovinfosse","tag-maya-weug","tag-mp-motorsport","tag-nerea-marti","tag-prema-racing","tag-rodin-carlin","tag-susie-wolff"],"modified_by":"Nicole Powell","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5363"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27738"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27758,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27738\/revisions\/27758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}