Maya Weug wins the race and the Teams’ title for Prema Racing in Race 3 of the 2024 Abu Dhabi F1 Academy GP Weekend. Abbi Pulling finished in second ahead of Nerea Martì.
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There were three races this weekend after Race 2 in Qatar was canceled. Race 3 was the final race of the 2024 F1 Academy season, and while the Drivers’ Championship was over, the Teams’ Championship was still up for grabs.
Contact Into Turn 1
Abbi Pulling got a great start, leading into turn 1. Doriane Pin also got a great start, but she made contact with Chloe Chambers into turn 1. They both dropped to the very back of the field. The incident opened the door for Hamda Al Qubaisi and Maya Weug, who were now in second and third.
Ferrari Academy Driver Maya Weug tried to overtake Al Qubaisi down the inside, succeeding on her second attempt. This was crucial for the Teams’ Championship battle.
Chloe Chambers received a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Doriane Pin at turn 1. She also had to pit for a new front wing after the contact.
Maya Weug had great pace in the early stage of the race, putting immense pressure on Abbi Pulling for the lead.
Bianca Bustamante had a big lock-up into turn six, which caused her to run into the side of Hamda Al Qubaisi. They were both able to continue after the contact.
A New Race Leader
Weug tried to overtake Abbi Pulling, but Pulling went off-track to maintain the lead. The Prema Driver tried another overtake, and Hamda Al Qubaisi got involved as a result. The battle lasted multiple corners, and it was Maya Weug who emerged in the lead.
Maya Weug quickly pulled out a gap of over a second to Abbi Pulling. Hamda attempted a move on Pulling. Meanwhile, multiple drivers cut the chicane. The order was shaken up as a result, and Bianca Bustamante narrowly maintained fifth place.
Bustamante was given a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Emily De Heus that forced them both wide. Meanwhile, Hamda Al Qubaisi was continuing to put pressure on a struggling Abbi Pulling. Pulling’s lack of pace was putting both her and Al Qubaisi at risk to the drivers behind.
Williams Academy driver Lia Block overtook Bustamante for fifth place, slowly making her way up the grid. She had strong pace in the last few laps of the race, immediately putting pressure on fourth place Nerea Martì. Block ultimately went around the outside of Martì to take the place.
Hamda Al Qubaisi was hit by Lia Block from third place after battling with Abbi Pulling for a large portion of the race. She dropped to the back of the field, and Block was promoted to third place.
Safety Car in the Final Laps
The Safety Car came out for one lap because Hamda Al Qubaisi was unable to restart her car after spinning from the contact. Lia Block was given a penalty, promoting Martì to third place.
The Safety Car reduced the large gap Maya Weug had built to Abbi Pulling, putting the Prema driver under pressure. However, Weug got a great restart and kept Pulling far behind.
Block was given another 10-second penalty for the collision with Al Qubaisi. She fought Abbi Pulling throughout the final lap, but her penalties dropped her to 14th. Amna Al Qubaisi was also given a 10-second time penalty in the final lap.
Maya Weug won her first F1 Academy race in Race 3 of the 2024 F1 Academy Abu Dhabi GP weekend, earning Prema Racing the Teams’ Championship. 2024 Champion Abbi Pulling finished in second, while Nerea Martì rounded out the top three.
Photo Credit: Prema Racing
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