The 2024 F1 Academy season concludes with Race 3 in Abu Dhabi, where Maya Weug takes her first career victory after a masterful drive behind the wheel of the Ferrari-liveried Tatuus. Meanwhile, PREMA secures the Team Championship for the second consecutive year.
The final showdown at Yas Marina has just concluded, marking the end of the 2024 F1 Academy season. During this season, British driver Abbi Pulling took over from Marta Garcia in the second edition of the category, led by Susie Wolff. Meanwhile, the Team Cup went once again to PREMA Racing, the team of Doriane Pin, Maya Weug, and Tina Hausmann. The Abu Dhabi weekend proved historic with three races, one more than the standard race weekends, to recover points lost due to the cancellation of Race 2 in Qatar the previous Sunday.
The Dutch national anthem rings out at the end of the season in celebration of Maya Weug’s victory, marking the first win for the Ferrari Driver Academy racer in her debut season. This victory also helped the Italian team secure the top spot in the team standings, ahead of Rodin Motorsport. On the podium with Weug, in second place, is Abbi Pulling, who defended her position throughout the race but also set a record: the Brit never finished off the podium during the season. In third place is Nerea Martì, who clinches fourth place in the championship, having battled all season with Chloe Chambers.
Race 3 Abu Dhabi Report
The grand finale kicks off with the front row occupied by the main protagonists of the weekend: Abbi Pulling and Chloe Chambers leading the pack, followed by Hamda Al Qubaisi and Doriane Pin. As the lights go out, the action starts quickly: Chloe Chambers and Doriane Pin collide, sending both off-track, with the American receiving a 10-second penalty. Abbi Pulling takes advantage of the incident and immediately works to build a gap from the rest of the field. Behind her, Hamda Al Qubaisi, looking for her third consecutive podium at her home race, is unable to defend from Maya Weug, who overtakes her into Turn 6 to take second place.
Further back, Lola Lovinfosse makes an impressive recovery, gaining six positions in the first few laps. The French driver had started from the back of the grid after being penalized five places for causing a collision with Jessica Edgar and Aurelia Nobels during Race 2. A lock-up from Bianca Bustamante leads to contact with Hamda Al Qubaisi, though it causes no issues for the Emirati driver, but the Filipino racer is handed a 10-second penalty and is overtaken by Emely de Heus.
The battle intensifies for second place between Nerea Martì, Hamda Al Qubaisi, and Maya Weug, while Abbi Pulling continues to lead. The British driver is soon joined by Weug, but after running wide, Pulling retains the race lead. However, Weug manages to overtake both Al Qubaisi and Pulling to take control of the race.
The action moves into second place, with Red Bull’s Al Qubaisi attacking the season’s champion Pulling but unable to overtake. Meanwhile, Nerea Martì tries to capitalize on the duel in front, but Al Qubaisi successfully defends her position. A fantastic race from Lia Block sees the American climb into fifth place, passing Bianca Bustamante and Nerea Martì, showcasing her growth during her debut F1 Academy season.
Mid-race, Hamda Al Qubaisi goes off-track, losing the chance for her third consecutive podium and dropping to 15th place. This allows another driver to claim their first career podium, as the Williams-supported driver rises to third. The final lap of the F1 Academy season begins with the Safety Car returning to the pits, and Maya Weug immediately seeks to build a gap from second-place Pulling. Lia Block finishes in third, but it’s Nerea Martì who officially takes the final podium spot, while Block receives a 15-second penalty for causing collisions during the race.
The F1 Academy will return to action from March 21-23, 2025, making its debut at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Photo: F1 Academy.