F1 Academy re-crown champion after bizarre title u-turn

Abbi Pulling has been crowned 2024 F1 Academy champion for a second time after being de-crowned following a bizarre set of circumstances.

The Alpine junior wrapped up the title in race 1 in Qatar last weekend, with nearest rival Doriane Pin earning two points for race 2 pole at Lusail. 

However, race 2 was cancelled following lengthy barrier repairs following a Porsche crash, by which time Pulling was already champion.

But organisers, in a bid to maximise track time opted to add a third race onto the Abu Dhabi finale, which is being treated as a normal weekend with maximum points on offer for the field. 

F1 Academy follows the F1 points system of 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 for the top 10, with two points being awarded for pole and a further one for fastest lap. It means there are 84 points up for grabs across the Yas Marina weekend, with Pulling on 263 points, 83 clear of Mercedes junior Pin on 180.

To keep her slim title hopes alive, Pin was required to take all three pole positions in the sole qualifying session, with each driver's fastest lap setting the grid for race 1, their second fastest for race 2 and their third fastest times respectively setting the race 3 grid. 

Pulling claimed pole position for race 1, and indeed for races 2 and 3, with Pin only fifth fastest on the grid for race 1.