Abbi Pulling claimed the title in Qatar, but the F1 Academy will return to Abu Dhabi for the final round of the season with a small modification to the weekend’s format.
The F1 Academy season is drawing to a close, with Abbi Pulling claiming the crown at the last weekend in Lusail, succeeding Marta Garcia, the previous year’s champion and the first female to win the title. This season, the Spanish driver has been competing in the FRECA championship with Iron Dames, while the British driver Pulling will race in GB3 next season.
Despite the Driver’s title already being decided, the battle at the Abu Dhabi round of the F1 Academy will focus on the Constructors’ Championship, with PREMA Racing leading the standings with a 28-point advantage over Rodin Motorsport, currently in second place with 304 points. The battle is also intense further down the order, with ART Grand Prix (125 points) and MP Motorsport (122) fighting for fourth place.
In the Drivers’ standings, the second, third, fourth, and fifth positions remain uncertain. Maya Weug, with 135 points, will aim to give her best to secure second place in the championship, hoping to overtake Doriane Pin, who currently holds second with 180 points. Meanwhile, Nerea Martì, with 105 points, will continue her battle for fourth place with Chloe Chambers, who trails by two points.
Logan Hannah will be the wildcard for the F1 Academy weekend in Abu Dhabi
At the previous round in Qatar, we witnessed a fantastic and promising performance from Alisha Palmowski, the wildcard who participated in the F1 Academy weekend. Now, the final wildcard of the year to race in Abu Dhabi will be Scottish driver Logan Hannah. She will be supported by Away, a new partner of F1 Academy, with a special livery and race suit. The 22-year-old is no stranger to single-seater racing, having started in karting with the Sodi World Series, and becoming the first woman to compete in the Formula 4 UAE championship in 2017. Additionally, Hannah took part in the official F1 Academy tests at the Yas Marina Circuit last October.
On the opportunity, Logan Hannah said: “This is an incredible opportunity for me to race on an unmatched platform. As someone who loves to travel and explore new places, it’s fantastic to be supported by a brand like Away, which not only celebrates exploration but is also dedicated to empowering women. I’m excited to take on this challenge in Abu Dhabi, where I started karting and where my career took off, knowing I’m part of a mission to create opportunities for the next generation of women in motorsport. I also want to send a personal thank you to Susie, the whole F1 ACADEMY team, and Away for this opportunity “.
F1 Academy Schedule in Abu Dhabi
With the exception of a third race scheduled between sessions during the final weekend of the F1 Academy to make up for the one lost at the Lusail International Circuit, the drivers in Susie Wolff’s category will take to the track for their first and only free practice session on the Yas Marina Circuit on the usual Friday morning, which will kick off the subsequent sessions for Formula 2 and Formula 1. Here’s the weekend schedule:
Friday, December 6, 2024
- 06:50 – Free Practice 1 – Sky Sport F1
- 15:35 – Qualifying – Sky Sport F1
Saturday, December 7, 2024
- 09:15 – Race 1 – Sky Sport F1
- 17:15 – Race 2 – Sky Sport F1
Sunday, December 8, 2024
- 08:15 – Race 3 – Sky Sport F1
As stated in the official F1 Academy release, the weekend format will remain largely unchanged, except for qualifying, where the third-fastest time set by the drivers will determine the starting grid for Race 3. The sessions will also be broadcast live on the official F1 Academy social media channels, on YouTube, or on F1 TV. All schedules and weather forecasts for each GP and category can be checked by downloading the official GPKingdom App, available for Android and iOS.
Photos: F1 Academy.