Under the Safety Car regime, Race 2 in Abu Dhabi ends with victory for Abbi Pulling, followed by Chloe Chambers and Hamda Al Qubaisi, who returns once again to the podium at home.
As on the previous day, the second day of the weekend at the Yas Marina circuit was concluded by the F1 Academy with Race 2, where Abbi Pulling made it a double victory. After claiming her eighth win of the season in Race 1, the British driver repeated the feat in the second race of the weekend. Joining her on the podium were Chloe Chambers and Hamda Al Qubaisi, who managed to defend their second and third positions, respectively.
Doriane Pin’s difficult weekend continued as she finished in fourth place, gaining just one position from her starting spot, ahead of Maya Weug, Nerea Martì, Bianca Bustamante, Emely de Heus, Tina Hausmann, and wildcard point scorer Logan Hannah. Three retirements were recorded: Jessica Edgar, Lola Lovinfosse, and Carrie Schreiner.
Race Highlights
As the lights went out, Abbi Pulling held onto her pole position, unlike in Race 1, where Chloe Chambers had quickly snatched the lead. This time, after taking advantage of a lock-up by Chambers at the chicane, the American, supported by the Haas F1 Team, took command of the second race of the weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Carrie Schreiner returned to the pits following a collision with Lola Lovinfosse. Unfortunately, the German driver had to retire from her penultimate race in the category. For the French driver Lovinfosse, there was a ten-second penalty for causing the incident. In Race 2, Doriane Pin resumed from where she left off in Race 1, trailing behind Hamda Al Qubaisi and unable to gain a position on the Emirati driver. Meanwhile, Hamda’s sister, Amna Al Qubaisi, received a ten-second penalty for cutting the corner and gaining an advantage. In the mid-pack, Emely de Heus attempted to put pressure on Bianca Bustamante, who started fourth but found herself in eighth position.
During lap seven, race control announced an investigation into American driver Lia Block (supported by Williams) for a false start. Block would be given a five-second penalty. The lead of the race, which had been taken by Chloe Chambers, was soon retaken by Abbi Pulling, who capitalized on Block’s mistake. The top four positions then formed a train, with Pulling leading, followed by Chambers, Hamda Al Qubaisi, and Doriane Pin, all about five seconds ahead of the fifth-place runner, Nerea Martì.
In the first race of the weekend at Yas Marina, there had been an intense battle between Spanish driver Nerea Martì, racing in a Tommy Hilfiger-liveried car, and Maya Weug. After a wheel-to-wheel fight in the tenth lap, the PREMA driver came out on top, while Martì found herself under pressure from Bianca Bustamante.
Amna Al Qubaisi attempted to pass Emely de Heus, but had to keep an eye on Tina Hausmann, who managed to take ninth position. Aurelia Nobels received a black-and-white flag. The penultimate lap saw a heated exchange with a collision between Lola Lovinfosse and Jessica Edgar, and another between Amna Al Qubaisi and Lia Block. Race 2 ended under the Safety Car.
The 2024 F1 Academy season will conclude tomorrow morning at 08:15 with Race 3, which has been added to the weekend’s schedule to make up for the second race that was not run in Qatar. Can Abbi Pulling complete the hat-trick?
Photos: F1 Academy.