As the F1 Academy paddock gears up for the penultimate round of the 2024 season in Qatar, anticipation fills the air. It has been two months since the last race weekend, and the teams have returned to the Lusail International Circuit after three days of testing, setting the stage for an exciting weekend.
Abbi Pulling, the Alpine driver, is in a prime position to clinch the championship title. With an impressive record of seven wins in ten races and never finishing lower than third, Pulling has established herself as a formidable competitor this season. Currently, she enjoys a commanding 95-point lead over her nearest rival, Mercedes’ Doriane Pin, who has managed to secure victories in Jeddah and Zandvoort.
Pulling needs just 18 points to secure the championship by the end of Race 1 in Qatar. With 112 points still up for grabs in the remaining four races, an 84-point lead would suffice for her to become the champion, even if Pin were to claim maximum points.
Alisha Palmowski’s debut
In a notable development for the weekend, Alisha Palmowski, the fifth Wild Card entry of the season, will be making her F1 Academy debut. The GB4 Championship runner-up has already demonstrated her potential during testing, finishing no lower than sixth. With two of the previous Wild Card drivers already securing full-time seats for 2025, Palmowski is eager to make her mark and solidify her place in the field.
The Championship race
The Teams’ Championship is heating up, with PREMA Racing currently leading by a slim seven-point margin. The team’s success has been bolstered by the performances of Pin and third-place driver Maya Weug from Ferrari. Pulling has been the cornerstone for Rodin Motorsport, contributing 245 of their 280 points, while Campos Racing remains in the mix with a solid performance throughout the season.
With 244 points still available in the final two rounds, the outcome in Qatar will play a crucial role in determining the eventual Teams’ Championship winner.
The driver market is starting to heat up, there are still several seats available for the 2025 season. Out of the six full-time drivers who could return, only Chloe Chambers has made her plans clear, signing on with Red Bull Ford. This leaves Doriane Pin, Maya Weug, Lia Block, Aurelia Nobels, and Tina Hausmann in a critical position as they look to make a lasting impression in the final races of the season.
Maya Weug, in particular, is hungry for her first win in the series, while Lia Block is riding high after two impressive fourth-place finishes in Singapore. On the other hand, both Nobels and Hausmann have faced ups and downs in their rookie seasons but are determined to end on a high note before the winter break.
As the F1 Academy gears up for this key weekend in Qatar, all eyes will be on the track. Fans will be watching to see if Abbi Pulling can clinch her championship title, whether Alisha Palmowski can shine in her debut, and how the teams will position themselves for the final round.
