Abbi Pulling’s path to securing the F1 Academy title has become more complicated following a change to the championship structure ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Initially, Pulling had been crowned champion last Saturday in Qatar after finishing second behind her title rival, Doriane Pin. This result had given her an 83-point lead, with only 82 points remaining in the season, which seemed to secure her the title.
However, the situation took a twist when the second race in Qatar was canceled due to extensive barrier repairs from a previous support event at the Lusail International Circuit. Pin, who was set to start from pole position in that race, was awarded two bonus points for her pole performance, even though the race itself did not take place. As a result, F1 Academy decided to announce an additional third race in Abu Dhabi to make up for the canceled race, ensuring that the season would still feature 14 races and giving the drivers more opportunities for competitive track time.
The inclusion of this extra race also means there are two additional points available for pole position in Abu Dhabi. This creates a scenario where a maximum of 84 points can still be earned. Consequently, Pulling is no longer officially the champion, and Pin still has a slim chance of overtaking her in the final standings. Pin would need to secure pole position for each of the three remaining races and win each race with the fastest lap, which would give her a perfect weekend. Even if this happens, Pulling only needs to score a single point across the three races to maintain her lead and retain the title.
The championship points system awards 25 points for a first-place finish, 18 for second, and so on, with additional points available for pole positions and fastest laps, making every point crucial for both Pulling and Pin in the final push for the title.
