The second day of the Qatar GP weekend gets underway at the Lusail International Circuit with F1 Academy Qualifying. The 16 drivers will have 30 minutes to set their fastest lap times to claim pole position for the start of Race 1 and tomorrow’s Race 2.
As a note, for Race 1, which will take place later today, each driver’s fastest lap time will be used to set the grid. For Sunday’s Race 2, each driver’s second fastest lap will be used. Two points will be awarded to the drivers who claim pole position for Races 1 and 2. The drivers who claim pole position for Races 1 and 2, will each be awarded two Championship points.
Pulling versus Pin
Two drivers who are the favourites to claim pole position are Prema Racing and Mercedes Junior Team’s Doriane Pin (PIN) and Rodin Motorsport and Alpine Academy’s Abbi Pulling (PUL). The former, Pin, has enjoyed a strong weekend. She finished at the top of the timesheet in Friday’s first and second free practice (FP) sessions. The French driver currently sits second in the Drivers’ Championship with 150 points. She will need to put her car on pole to maximise her chances of denying Pulling the opportunity to claim the title later today. Pulling, with 245 points, currently sits 95 points ahead of Pin. She needs only 18 points this Qatar GP weekend to secure her first championship. She can do this on Saturday if she finishes P1 or P2 in Race 1.
Delayed start to Qualifying
The F1 Academy Qualifying session was scheduled to begin at 15:20 local time (13:20 CET, 12:27 GMT). However, the session will be delayed as work is carried out on track to repair damage to the barriers. This follows an accident during the first race of the Porsche Carrera Cup. The session is now expected to start at 15:30 local time.
Despite the delayed start to the F1 Academy Qualifying session, the drivers are in their cars, waiting for the track to go green. However, the session is further delayed, with the start time moved to 15:32 and then 15:34 local time.
Qatar GP F1 Academy Qualifying gets underway!
After the delay, F1 Academy Qualifying gets underway. The drivers will now have 23 minutes, as opposed to the initial 30, to set their lap times. Due to this, they are all quick to get out onto the track, with traffic quickly building up as they attempt their first lap around the circuit.
20 minutes!
With just about 20 minutes remaining, some drivers, including Pulling, return to the pit lane to adjust their tyres. Others, including, Pin and Prema Racing teammate, Maya Weug (WEU), have remained on track, but soon return to the pitlane after an extra lap. The drivers have not used these laps to set a representative time. Instead, they have prioritised getting their tyres to an appropriate temperature, to reduce tyre degradation which has proven to be a major challenge throughout the weekend.
With just over 16 minutes left, all 16 drivers are now out on track. Abbi Pulling crosses the line to begin her first flying lap. However, traffic may prove troublesome if she is unable to avoid it. With her tyres not up to an optimal temperature, she opts to abandon the attempt before reaching the first corner.
First half of F1 Academy Qualifying session complete!
With just under fourteen minutes remaining, however, she begins her second attempt at a fast lap. This lap, she chooses to continue. However, Pin is also attempting a fast lap. Pin goes to the top of the timesheet with a time of 1:55.988, while Pulling, despite a strong attempt, goes third, behind Ferrari Driver Academy’s Weug.
10 minutes left!
With just over 10 minutes left in the session, Weug goes fastest with a time of 1:55.779. Wildcard Alisha Palmowski, who had been P4, has not gotten up to P3, ahead of Pulling. Pulling attempts to improve her time, but is forced to abandon her lap. She returns to the pitlane. This may be detrimental if the session is red-flagged.
MP Motorsport’s Emely de Haus (DEH) is noted for speeding in the pitlane. If she is found to have breached the regulations, she may lose her lap time. The driver, who currently sits P14 on the timesheet with just over 6 minutes left, will need some very good laps to improve her starting position.
Both Weug and Pin have improved their lap times, with the Mercedes Junior Driver going fastest with a time of 1:55.309. Weug goes second, just 0.222 seconds off her Prema Racing teammate. She does, however, improve her time on her second lap to get to within 0.192 seconds of Pin.
Abbi Pulling, who had been forced to return to the pitlane for a tyre change, has finally returned to the track. She goes third fastest, 0.673 seconds behind Pin. However, she will attempt further laps to improve her time, and hopefully, her standing.
Final minute!
With less than a minute remaining in the session, Pin attempts another fast lap, improving her lap time to 1:22.267. Pulling too, has attempted to improve her time. Though she gets to within 0.270 seconds of her title rival, she remains P3 on the timesheet. Just behind her, ART Grand Prix and Williams Drivers Academy’s Lia Block (BLO) gets up to fourth with MP Motorsport and Red Bull Academy’s Hamda Al Qubaisi (HAL) settling into fifth.
Checkered Flag!
As the checkered flag falls, Weug completes her final lap around the circuit. However, she cannot improve and will finish second, behind her teammate, Pin.
With the final qualifying standings now set, the expected starting grid for Race 1 is PIN, WEU, PUL, BLO, HAL, PAL, MAR, BUS, NOB, EDG, SCH, CHA, DEH, AAL, HAU, LOV.
For Race 2, the starting grid is: PIN, WEU, PUL, PAL, HAL, MAR, BUS, BLO, SCH, NOB, AAL, HAU, EDG, DEH, LOV, CHA.
Pin, whose second-fastest lap time was the fastest of the lot, will also start Race 2 FROM pole position. She has earned four more points towards her title fight in the Drivers’ Championship.
