Weug finally claims first victory in frantic F1 Academy season finale · RaceFans

Ferrari-supported driver Maya Weug took her first F1 Academy win in the final race of the season in Yas Marina.

Having scored seven podium finishes through the season but not a win, Weug passed champion Abbi Pulling and secured an overdue victory, despite having to cope with a late Safety Car restart.

Pulling held on to second place, with Nerea Marti claiming the final podium place in her final F1 Academy race.

The final F1 Academy race of the season saw champion Abbi Pulling starting from pole for the tenth time in 15 rounds. Pulling held the lead at the start, but Dorine Pin pulled alongside front row starter Chloe Chambers to challenge for second. The pair both went into the first corner side-by-side and made contact, sending both wide and causing front wing damage to Chambers’ car.

Both drivers continued, but Chambers was handed a 10-second penalty for causing the collision. That allowed Hamda Al Qubaisi to gain second place with Maya Weug in third. Weug passed Al Qubaisi for second on the second lap and then pushed hard to catch the leader, which she quickly did.

Bianca Bustamante locked up under braking for turn six on lap four and careered into the side of Al Qubaisi, but remarkably avoided causing significant damage. The next lap, Weug appeared to have passed Pulling for the lead into turn six, but Pulling ran off and cut turn seven to retain the lead. Weug managed to pass for the lead on lap six after a multi-car, multi-corner battle between Weug, Pulling and Al Qubaisi.

Almost the entire field were bunched together in a single pack, but Weug managed to escape from the chaos behind and pull a lead of over three seconds with Pulling visibly struggling for pace behind her. Al Qubaisi continued to challenge Pulling for second place but was repelled for several laps. Eventually, Al Qubaisi was hit by Lia Block at the exit of turn seven on lap 12, causing her to spin and bringing out the Safety Car.

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The race restarted on the final lap, with Weug holding her nerve and staying well clear of Pulling to take the chequered flag and secure her first win of the season in the final race. Pulling held off Block to take second place and keep her perfect record of podiums through the season intact, while Nerea Marti gained the final podium place in third after Block was demoted with a ten second penalty for causing the collision with Al Qubaisi.

Several drivers were investigated and penalised for leaving the track and gaining an advantage for multiple incidents of missing turn seven throughout the race. Once penalties were applied, Tina Hausmann was credited with fourth place, ahead of Jessica Edgar and Pin in sixth. Carrie Schreiner was seventh, with Lola Lovinfosse, Aurelia Nobels and Emely de Heus taking the final points.

The result means that Prema secured the teams’ championship despite Rodin driver Pulling’s domination of the season. The F1 Academy championship will expand to 18 cars next season with the addition of the Hitech team to the series.

Race result

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