F1 Academy champion de-crowned in bizarre circumstances

New F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling has been de-crowned after a third race was added to the schedule for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix support series. 

Alpine junior Pulling won the title last time out in Qatar with a second-place finish in race one at Lusail, giving her an unassailable lead over Mercedes junior Doriane Pin. 

However, race two was cancelled after significant barrier repairs were needed after a crash in the Porsche support series, by which time Pulling was already crowned as champion. 

But, in a bid to maximise track time for the drivers, organisers have opted to add a third race to this weekend’s Yas Marina event, with the series following the F1-points system of 25 for a win down to one point for 10th place.

F1 Academy also offers two points for a pole position and one for the fastest lap, meaning from the three races, there is a total of 84 points on offer for Pin who currently has 180 to her name. 

Pulling’s lead is currently 83, with her tally being 263 – meaning if the Briton was to fail to score a point all weekend, and Pin bagged a maximum haul of 84, she would end the season with 264 points, one more than Pulling’s total.