Abbi Pulling, from Rodin Motorsport, celebrates her first-place finish in the parc fermé. On May 4, 2024, at the Miami International Circuit, in Florida, USA, Pulling secured the victory in Race 1 of the FIA Formula Academy. As a junior Alpine driver, Pulling’s win further solidified her lead in the driver standings. She finished the race five seconds ahead of Doriane Pin, a junior Mercedes driver, while Chloe Chambers fought to secure third place in her home race.
The start of Race 1 was delayed by 20 minutes due to track cleaning after an oil spill during the Porsche Carrera Cup race. The race itself consisted of only 13 laps, with no pit stops allowed in the intense heat of Miami. Pulling had a good start, smoothly navigating the first corner, while the McLaren development driver had a slow start to the race.
Unfortunately, Tina Hausmann retired early from the race after colliding with Aurelia Nobels in the third sector, resulting in a brief yellow flag on the first lap. Williams Academy driver Lia Block initially gained a few positions on the first lap but dropped to ninth place amidst the chaos. However, she quickly climbed back to 12th place by the third lap.
Block faced a tough battle with Emirati driver Amna Al Qubaisi, ultimately losing her points-scoring position when Al Qubaisi overtook her on the third lap. Meanwhile, Chloe Chambers made an impressive pass, overtaking Nerea Marti and Maya Weug to secure fourth place in a fierce battle.
Marti eventually passed the Ferrari Academy driver to claim seventh place on the following straight. Bustamente also made progress, gaining two positions on the sixth lap and closing in on Amna Al Qubaisi from MP Motorsport.
At the halfway point of Race 1, Abbi Pulling, the championship leader, was leading the pack with a 2.5-second advantage over the second-placed driver, known as the Iron Lady. However, Block’s race took a turn when she spun at Turn 6, losing control of her car while battling wheel-to-wheel with one of the Campos Racing cars.
Special guest Courtney Crone struggled throughout the race, remaining at the back of the grid until Block entered the pits. Despite Bustamente’s efforts to climb up to ninth place, she received a time penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage towards the end of the race.
Carrie Schreiner put up a strong defense against the Red Bull sponsored Ford driver, forcing her to cut the corner. Their battle continued as Emely De Heus tried to overtake the German driver on the outside, but lost speed on the straight.
Chambers surprised everyone in her home race by overtaking two drivers in Race 1. On the 11th lap, she passed Weug and Al Qubaisi to secure third place. Pulling, who was leading the race, maintained a four-second advantage over Chambers while trying to catch up to Pin, who was three seconds ahead. On the final lap, Hamda Al Qubaisi faced pressure from Nerea Marti and ended up losing her position to her. Despite being closely pursued by the Ferrari Academy driver, Chambers successfully defended her position and secured her first podium in her home race. Marti finished in fourth place after a tough battle with the Ferrari Academy driver, who received a penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage, dropping to sixth place. The Red Bull-backed driver secured fifth place, while Jessica Edgar finished strongly in seventh place, ahead of the Emirati driver in eighth. Despite a slow start and a time penalty, Bustamente managed to finish in ninth place, and the Charlotte Tilbury driver completed the top 10. The all-female series in Miami received overwhelming support from F1 Academy sponsors, Charlotte Tilbury and Tommy Hilfiger, throughout the weekend. As the drivers become more competitive at each event, the championship standings are expected to change in Race 2 tomorrow night.
© 2024
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Manchester United. The Portuguese player has signed a two-year contract with the English club, after leaving Juventus. The news of Ronaldo’s return to United has left fans excited and eager to see the superstar in action again.
Ronaldo started his career at Manchester United, where he played from 2003 to 2009. During this period, he won several titles, including three Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League. His departure from the club in 2009 was a shock to fans, but now they have reasons to celebrate his return.
At 36 years old, Ronaldo is still considered one of the best players in the world. His skill and talent are undeniable, and he has been one of the top scorers in all the teams he has played for. His presence at Manchester United will surely strengthen the team and increase their chances of winning titles.
In addition to his club achievements, Ronaldo is also a standout player for the Portuguese national team. He helped Portugal win the Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019. His leadership and experience will be valuable for Manchester United, especially for the younger players.
Ronaldo’s signing is also a major boost to the club’s image. Manchester United is known for attracting big football stars, and Ronaldo’s return only reinforces that reputation. The number 7 shirt, which he will wear again, is iconic at the club and is associated with great players from the past, like George Best, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham.
Manchester United fans are eager to see Ronaldo in action again and believe he can help the club achieve success. His presence in the team will surely raise expectations around the games and bring even more excitement to the fans. Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United is thrilling news for the club’s fans and football lovers in general.
