ABU DHABI — Britain’s Abbi Pulling won the 2024 all-female F1 Academy title for the second time in a week after taking pole position for three season-ending races in Abu Dhabi.
The Alpine driver was declared champion in Qatar last Saturday but organisers then scheduled an extra race for Yas Marina, the extra points leaving her one point off the title with Mercedes’ Doriane Pin still mathematically in the running.
Pole position is worth two points for each race.
“I wanted that so bad,” Pulling, 21, said after qualifying according to Reuters.
Formula One teams each nominate a driver and have their livery on a car in the Academy, a series on the Formula One support programme aimed at helping female racers climb the ladder.
The last woman to start a Formula One grand prix was the late Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.
Mercedes’ French driver Doriane Pin — Pulling’s closest rival — was awarded two points for pole in the Qatar race that was not held and retains them.
Formula One teams each nominate a driver and have their livery on a car in the Academy, a series on the Formula One support programme aimed at helping female racers climb the ladder.
The last woman to start a Formula One grand prix was the late Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.
Those were not completed in time for the F1 Academy race to take place as scheduled, and now means that there are 84 points available in Abu Dhabi.
Despite that, the Spalding born racer could still be seen celebrating the achievement of being the first British driver to win an F1 academy title, in Qatar.
That is because for Pin to overturn the current 83-point deficit she would need to win all three races, picking up 75 points. As well as three points for each pole position available, and the final three points for the fastest lap in each race.
And, that all required Pulling to not score a single point across the weekend. And, that is something that is yet to happen in her two F1 Academy seasons to date.
So, Abbi Pulling may have had to wait an extra week, but she has destiny in her own hands in hopes of securing a historic title this week.
“I’ve been really enjoying my time this season,” said Pulling. “When you’re at the top of the table, you’re not going to be complaining!”
Free time is hard to come by these days for Pulling, with most of her calendar booked up with simulator or fitness sessions. That may actually be the secret to her overwhelming success.
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