Imagine dominating an entire season, clinching the championship early, only to be told less than a week later, “Sorry, you’ve got to go out and win it again.” This scenario became a reality for F1 Academy driver Abbi Pulling, who was crowned the inaugural champion after dominating most of the races in 2024. Pulling, who competes for Alpine in F1 Academy, an all-female support series to F1, had consistently landed on the podium in every race, including the recent Qatar round.
However, things took an unexpected turn when the second race in Qatar was canceled due to significant barrier repairs following another support race. With the race scrapped, Pulling was initially declared the champion. But F1 Academy decided to hold three races in Abu Dhabi, meaning the championship was technically still up for grabs.
At present, Pulling’s closest rival, Doriane Pin from Mercedes, trails her by 83 points. With three races scheduled in Abu Dhabi, including opportunities for bonus points for pole positions, it’s possible for Pin to sweep the weekend and earn a maximum of 84 points. However, for Pin to win the title, Pulling would have to finish with zero points, which seems highly unlikely given her consistent performance throughout the season.
Things could have been even more interesting if Pin hadn’t lost her victory in Jeddah. After crossing the finish line first, her team failed to inform her that the race was over, leading her to complete an additional lap and cross the line again. This mistake resulted in a 20-second penalty, further complicating her championship bid.
Despite the strange turn of events, Pulling is likely to make history by winning the F1 Academy championship twice in its inaugural season. With her consistent performance, it seems a matter of when, not if, she’ll secure the title once again in Abu Dhabi.
