F1 ACADEMY: Pulling secures 2024 title after taking P2 behind Pin in Qatar Race 1

Alpine's Abbi Pulling has been crowned the champion of F1 ACADEMY's sophomore season after a series of consistently dominant performances saw her seal the title with a P2 finish in Race 1 in Qatar.

The 21-year-old has had a remarkable year in the all-female championship – she never crossed the line lower than P3, granting her a 95-point advantage over her nearest rival Doriane Pin, who has been fierce competition all season long, going into the penultimate round in Qatar.

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Although the Briton was outqualified by Pin and Maya Weug for both races in Qatar, she was able to storm through from P3 to P2 as Pin went on to win the first race of the weekend, meaning it was mathematically impossible for her total to be beaten.

Her success in F1 ACADEMY is also all the more impressive as she balanced this season with a drive in British Formula 4, where she made history as the series' first female race winner at Brands Hatch.

Race 1 of the weekend kicked off with a close battle at the front as Pin led the way from pole, with Weug and Pulling battling out behind her. The Briton managed to make the move stick on the Ferrari driver as she moved up from third to second.

Behind the top three, both Hamda Al Qubaisi and Wild Card entry Alisha Palmowski gained a position after a disappointing start for Lia Block, who started fourth but dropped down to sixth before Turn 1. Bianca Bustamante also had a slow getaway at the lights while Chloe Chambers and Tina Hausmann were both handed five-second penalties for false starts.

By Lap 3, Pin had pulled out 1.5s gap to Pulling and showed no signs of slowing down as the series experienced its first official night race under the floodlights.

Although hit with a five-second penalty for her start, Haas’s Chambers made up two positions on the opening lap and continued this strong form during the race. As she chased down Bustamante, the McLaren Development Driver took a trip through the gravel and was sent spinning on Lap 12 which brought out brief yellow flags and dropped her down to the bottom of the running order.

At the front Pin reached the chequered flag with a dominant 6.747s gap to Pulling in second place, but although the Mercedes driver topped every session of the race weekend so far, it wasn’t enough to keep a somewhat formidable Pulling from sealing the Drivers’ crown.

As a result of winning the title, Pulling will receive a fully-funded seat in GB3 with Rodin Motorsport for the 2025 season, in addition to a further 20 days of testing in the GB3 car.

This reward will see her continue her stint with Rodin, as well as representing Alpine which saw her previously garner praise from F1's Esteban Ocon and Team Principal Oliver Oakes.