F1 Academy: Abbi Pulling takes ninth win in Abu Dhabi night thriller after duel with Chambers

Abbi Pulling clinched her ninth victory of the season in a thrilling Abu Dhabi night race, marked by intense battles, multiple lead changes with Chloe Chambers, and another home podium by Hamda Al Qubaisi.

Photo credits: F1 Academy Limited

Abbi Pulling and Chloe Chambers delivered a thrilling second race in Abu Dhabi, with the front-row starters swapping the lead twice after Chambers seized it on the opening lap.

In a four-car battle for the win, Pulling eventually was able to open a small safe gap and secured her ninth success in 2024, edging Chambers, Hamda Al Qubaisi and Doriane Pin at the end of one of the season's most spectacular F1 Academy races.

A few hours after a dominant Race 1 performance by Pulling—despite a blistering start by Chambers, who looked set to challenge the newly crowned champion for victory—drivers returned to the track for Race 2 under the stunning Abu Dhabi night lights.

Having already clinched the title after qualifying, Alpine Academy’s Pulling had secured all three pole positions on Friday night. Yet with her record-breaking eighth win earlier in the day, Pulling was still hungry for more. Chambers sought redemption after a costly spin, while Al Qubaisi aimed for another home-soil podium.

With the top two positions in the standings now settled, plenty of action was still expected in cooler conditions, more similar to Friday’s qualifying.

At lights out, Pulling had the better launch as Chambers struggled with some wheelspin, though the American quickly closed in. Al Qubaisi, starting third, also had a strong getaway.

Chambers capitalized on a better exit out of Turn 8 and, after Pulling locked-up at Turn 6 losing momentum, Chloe passed her for the lead at Turn 9.

Unfortunately, it all went wrong for Carrie Schreiner as she had contact from Lovinfosse, was sent airborne and had to pit with damage, ultimately retiring.

Amna Al Qubaisi avoided the collision just ahead by taking to the runoff, but was later handed a 10-second penalty for gaining an advantage.

Nerea Marti and Maya Weug reignited their Race 1 battle, but Weug was now coming under pressure from Bianca Bustamante. The pair kept it clean and narrowly avoided contact, with Emely De Heus also joining the fray after another stellar start. Meanwhile, Amna Al Qubaisi climbed into ninth, battling teammate De Heus as both aimed to capitalize on the hectic action ahead.

Pulling set a new fastest lap of 1:57.090 on Lap 3 and began closing the gap to Chambers, who defended fiercely. Up front, the top four pulled away, separated by less than a second by Lap 4. Marti couldn’t keep pace with Pin but maintained a comfortable margin over Weug, had her mirrors full of Bustamante, with the Filipina setting a purple first sector.

Further back, Aurelia Nobels locked up, allowing Jessica Edgar, Lovinfosse, and Logan Hannah to close in. As in Race 1, battles erupted all across the field. Pin resumed her chase of Al Qubaisi, but the Emirati proved once again difficult to pass.

At mid-race, a mistake from Chambers exiting the hotel section allowed Pulling to reclaim the lead at Turn 14. Chambers, who was struggling with understeer, went slightly deep into Turn 12 - and couldn't hold off Pulling after a wheel-to-wheel in the following corners.

The top four however remained incredibly close, producing one of the season's most intense four-way fights. Once ahead, Pulling built a small gap, leaving Chambers to fend off Al Qubaisi and Pin.

On Lap 9, Nobels overtook Edgar for P12 in another tight four-car battle. Meanwhile, Marti once again came under pressure from Weug, and the two traded positions on Lap 10, with Weug ultimately prevailing. Bustamante attempted to capitalize but Marti shut the door.

Behind them, Amna Al Qubaisi attacked De Heus but soon had to defend as Tina Hausmann dived into P9.

Drama struck on Lap 13 when Lovinfosse collided with Edgar during a three-wide battle with Nobels, ending the race for both and bringing out the safety car. This ensured Pulling’s ninth win of the season with another superb drive.

Chambers, despite losing the lead, celebrated her fourth podium of the season—and her first since winning in Spain—while also earning the fastest lap with a 1:56.623.

Hamda Al Qubaisi delivered a defensive masterclass to secure her tenth F1 Academy podium - and the second of the day, in another emotional result on home soil and in her last weekend in the series - extending her advantage over Chambers to 10 points in the standings.

Pin narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth but gaining one position from the start. Maya Weug executed one of the weekend's best overtakes to claim fifth, relegating Marti to sixth. Despite late-race tyre degradation, Marti held off Bustamante, who earned points again after ending her unlucky streak in Race 1.

De Heus scored valuable points in eighth, climbing into the top ten of the championship standings. Tina Hausmann delivered a strong ninth-place finish after several exciting battles.

Amna Al Qubaisi had crossed the line in tenth but was demoted to 13th due to her penalty. Lia Block, who battled fiercely with Amna in the closing stages, also received a five-second penalty for a jump start, promoting Wild Card Logan Hannah to tenth. The Scottish driver, supported by Away, became the fourth Wild Card to score points in F1 Academy with an impressive second race, despite having missed most of practice on Friday to a technical issue.

Aurelia Nobels finished eleventh, surviving the late-race collision without terminal damage.

Rodin Motorsport celebrated their ninth win, cutting Prema Racing’s lead in the teams’ standings to just 16 points with one race remaining.

On a permanent circuit well-suited to F4 cars, the second Abu Dhabi race proved to be one of the most entertaining of the season, featuring multiple lead changes and battles throughout the field.

The 2024 season concludes tomorrow at 11:15 local time with Race 3, as drivers aim to finish on a high note.

Photo credits: F1 Academy Limited