The F1 Academy weekend in Qatar kicked off with the first free practice session, where Doriane Pin set the pace, while Abbi Pulling managed to finish in second place despite a few mistakes and setbacks. Maya Weug completed the FP1 podium at Lusail.
The F1 Academy drivers opened the event at the Lusail circuit, where they will compete in Qatar for the first time, following the category’s recent test session here. In the opening free practice, it was Doriane Pin who took the lead, followed by Abbi Pulling and Maya Weug.
Jessica Edgar, Bianca Bustamante – who will conclude her F1 Academy career at the end of the Abu Dhabi weekend – Hamda Al Qubaisi, Alisha Palmowski, Lia Block – who has shown great progress this season, Nerea Martì, and Carrie Schreiner rounded out the Top 10 in this first free practice session in the Qatari desert.
The FP1 Report from Lusail
One of the first drivers to hit the track after nearly ten minutes into the session was Ferrari Driver Academy’s Aurelia Nobels, driving the PUMA-sponsored car number 22. She set the first reference time at 1:59.291, followed by Jessica Edgar and Emily De Heus. Meanwhile, Abbi Pulling faced some early difficulties in this penultimate F1 Academy event of the season, as she couldn’t get on track due to starter motor issues, missing the first part of the session and only getting in a few laps in the final 20 minutes.
With 20 minutes remaining in the FP1 session at Lusail, Abbi Pulling, along with her direct rival Doriane Pin and Maya Weug, had yet to set a lap time. In the meantime, Jessica Edgar continued to improve, lowering the reference time to 1:56.998, followed by Hamda Al Qubaisi, who set the fastest times in the first and second sectors.
The Mercedes-affiliated driver, after a first lap, moved into fifth place but then showed her pace, setting a new best time of 1:56.654 on her second lap, 1:56.654 putting her ahead of the British driver in the American Express-liveried car and wildcard entry Palmowski, who has a single chance to secure a place on the 2025 grid.Abbi Pulling, however, struggled to complete a clean lap with her usual dominant pace, ultimately finishing the session in second place behind the French driver, 0.290 seconds off the lead. +0.290.
The session ended with a yellow flag in the third sector after Hamda Al Qubaisi ran wide. Next up: the second free practice session of the F1 Academy at 15:55 (CET).
Photos: F1 Academy.