F1 ACADEMY: Pulling secures second win of the day in Abu Dhabi as she comes out on top in battle with Chambers

Alpine’s Abbi Pulling managed to secure a record-breaking ninth win of the F1 ACADEMY season as she came out on top in a tight battle with Chloe Chambers in Race 2.

Having taken the lead on the opening lap ahead of pole-sitter Pulling, the Haas driver's work was undone following a crucial error at the halfway stage that would let the 2024 champion back in front.

F1 ACADEMY: Pulling claims record-breaking eighth win in Yas Marina after Lap 1 drama for Chambers

The Briton never looked back and stayed at the front of the field until the chequered flag, with Chambers forced to settle for second. Hamda Al Qubaisi secured an admirable third as she recorded consecutive podiums in front of her home crowd in Abu Dhabi.

As the lights went out to start the second F1 ACADEMY race of the day, Pulling got a strong start off the line from pole and led into Turn 1, with Chambers remaining close behind in second. However, the Rodin Motorsport driver would struggle with a big lock up going into Turn 6, allowing Chambers to pounce and assume the lead on the first lap.

The American managed to pull out a gap of half a second to Pulling behind, as Hamda Al Qubaisi held onto third while Doriane Pin moved up into fourth after a slow start for McLaren's Bianca Bustamante ahead.

Towards the back of the pack, the Kick Sauber of Carrie Schreiner made contact with Lola Lovinfosse, with the Charlotte Tilbury driver subsequently handed a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision. Schreiner was forced to retire as a result of the impact, with Amna Al Qubaisi also handed a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage when taking avoiding action.

As the race reached its halfway point, with Pulling still chasing down the leader Chambers, the Haas driver made a crucial mistake going in too deep at Turn 12. Pulling took full advantage of the error, later sweeping up the inside to reclaim first place.

F1 ACADEMY: Pulling sweeps all three pole positions in Abu Dhabi

Behind the battling pair up front, Nerea Martí and Maya Weug were also involved in an exciting tussle for fifth throughout the race, with the Ferrari of Weug eventually securing the place on Lap 10. Bustamante then tried to attack Martí for sixth, with the Tommy Hilfiger driver doing her best to keep her at bay.

Despite having a 10-second penalty to her name, Amna Al Qubaisi was still keen to put on a show for her home fans and tried to pass Emely De Heus for eighth with three laps to go. Tina Hausmann and Lia Block soon found themselves involved in the fight too, with Hausmann going around the outside of Al Qubaisi to take ninth and Block – who also picked up a five-second penalty for a jump start – soon passing Al Qubaisi for 10th.

With just two laps to go, Lovinfosse's race ended in disastrous fashion as a collision with Jessica Edgar broke the front-right suspension of her car, with the Safety Car called upon as a result.

With Race 2 ending under Safety Car conditions, Pulling was able to bring it home to convert another pole position into a win, with Chambers taking second and Hamda Al Qubaisi locking in back-to-back podiums at her home race.

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Pin had to settle for fourth at the flag after following Al Qubaisi closely for most of the race, with Weug holding onto fifth, and Martí finishing in sixth. Bustamante crossed the line in seventh, as De Heus took eighth, and Hausmann secured ninth.

F1 ACADEMY Wild Card, Logan Hannah, also got her first point in the Away-branded car. The Scottish driver, who finished in 12th on the road at the chequered flag, found herself promoted up into 10th after the penalties were applied to both Amna Al Qubaisi and Block.