Mercedes junior driver Doriane Pin saw off the challenge of Britain’s Abbi Pulling to claim victory in the opening F1 Academy race of the 2024 season in Saudi Arabia.
Having dominated qualifying to secure pole for both races at the opening round of the all-female series, Prema driver Pin led the 12-lap contest from start to finish.
Rodin driver Pulling, who is supported by F1 team Alpine, chased gamely throughout and closed to within a second of Pin in the closing stages, but couldn’t overhaul the French driver.
Pin’s Prema team-mate Maya Weug, who is backed by Ferrari, completed the podium as the top three finished as they started on the grid.
There was final-lap drama as Nerea Marti, running fourth, was clipped from behind as Lola Lovinfosse attempted an overtake. Marti dropped to the back of the field as a result of the collision, while Lovinfosse, who was able to continue, lost fourth to Chloe Chambers.
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Nerea Marti’s race came to a halt during the last lap after Lola Lovinfosse sent her off track.
McLaren junior driver Bianca Bustamente, who dropped two places from fifth on the grid following first-lap contact, finished sixth.
Tina Hausmann jumped from 11th on the grid to take seventh, with Aurelia Nobels, Hamda Al Qubaisi and Carrie Schreiner rounding out the points.
Wildcard entrant, Reema Juffali, recovered to finish 11th after triggering the Safety Car to come out on lap three following a collision.
Williams junior driver Lia Block finished last after spinning into the barrier on lap 11, while Jess Edgar was second from the back after suffering a puncture when running ninth.
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Susie Wolff doesn’t think we are far away from women on the F1 grid as she talks after the opening F1 Academy race of the season in Saudi Arabia.
Pin starts on pole once more for the second race of the opening round, which is live on Sky Sports F1 at 12pm on Saturday.
F1 teams have given increased support to F1 Academy with the liveries of each constructor on 10 of the 15 full-time cars.
Increasing female involvement in all areas of motor racing, both on and off track, is a major goal of F1 and the governing body of world motorsport, the FIA.
F1 Academy is exclusively taking place at Formula 1 weekends this season with seven rounds, starting in Jeddah this week.
F1 Academy Saudi Arabia Race 1
Driver
Team
Supporting F1 Team
Time
1) Doriane Pin
Prema
Mercedes
26:50.962
2) Abbi Pulling
Rodin Motorsport
Alpine
+0.8
3) Maya Weug
Prema
Ferrari
+6.9
4) Chloe Chambers
Campos
Haas
+11.6
5) Lola Lovinfosse
Rodin Motorsport
+13.2
6) Bianca Bustamante
ART
McLaren
+13.9
7) Tina Hausmann
Prema
Aston Martin
+20.0
8) Aurelia Nobels
ART
+22.7
9) Hamda Al Qubaisi
MP
Red Bull
+23.4
10) Carrie Schreiner
Campos
Sauber
+24.6
11) Reema Juffali
Prema
+25.0
12) Emely de Heus
MP
+26.0
13) Amna Al Qubaisi
MP
RB
+40.9
14) Nerea Marti
Campos
1 lap
15) Jessica Edgar
Rodin Motorsport
1 lap
16) Lia Block
ART
Williams
2 laps
Sky Sports F1’s live Saudi Arabian GP schedule
Friday March 8
1.10pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Three (session starts at 1.30pm)3.05pm: F2 Sprint Race4.10pm: Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying build-up5pm: SAUDI ARABIAN GP QUALIFYING
Saturday March 9
12pm: F1 Academy Race 21.20pm: F2 Feature Race3.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Saturday5pm: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX7pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag9.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP highlights
Watch the second round of the new F1 season – the Saudi Arabian GP – live on Sky Sports F1 this week, with qualifying on Friday and the race at 5pm on Saturday. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership for just £21 a month for 12 months
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Francis Ngannou takes place on Friday March 8, live on Sky Sports Box Office with the main event expected around 11pm. Book now!