Exclusive championship for women in Formula 1, F1 Academy will host all seven stages of its 2024 season in this year’s F1 races. The first stage will take place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This is a significant step for the rookie championship, as last year it only held one event as part of the F1 support program. Each of the 10 F1 teams will support a driver who will race with the colors of their team in the Formula 4 level series. The remaining drivers will be sponsored by series partners or race with the series brand. Additionally, for the first time, F1 superlicense points will be awarded, with the 2024 champion receiving 10 points, a quarter of the points needed to qualify for an F1 superlicense.
As we approach the season opener, there are nine important things to watch this year. One highlight is Doriane Pin, who is the clear favorite for the 2024 title, despite not having competed in the F1 Academy yet. Pin has already made a name for herself in the world of sports car racing, especially in the World Endurance Championship. Now, she is ready to make her mark in single-seaters, while still competing in the WEC. Pin’s impressive performances in Formula 4 last year, including one win and three podiums, demonstrate her potential for success in the F1 Academy.
Pin’s teammate at Prema, Maya Weug, is expected to be his closest competitor this season. Weug became the first female member of the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2021 and has already shown promise in mixed F4, scoring points on several occasions. Despite her previous experience in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), Weug returned to the F1 Academy in the 2024 season. This move puts her as one of the favorites for the title and provides her with the opportunity to secure funding and potentially race in FRECA again.
Red Bull is supporting three drivers in the F1 Academy this year, becoming the team with the highest number of drivers in the series. The three drivers, Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi and Emely de Heus, achieved victories in the inaugural season. Hamda Al Qubaisi, in particular, stands out as the second highest placed second-year driver, after finishing third in 2023. The Al Qubaisi sisters have extensive experience in F4, as does de Heus, who competed in the Spanish F4 and F1 Academy last year. Although having multiple drivers does not guarantee success, Red Bull’s talented trio makes it likely that one of their drivers will achieve victory in 2024.
Another driver to watch is Abbi Pulling, who had high expectations placed on her in the previous F1 Academy season but failed to challenge for the title as many had predicted. Pulling had a successful career in British F4 and the W Series, always finishing on the podium. However, she has not yet secured a victory in single-seaters. Pulling has been working with a performance coach to improve her focus and deal with the pressure she puts on herself. With a return to British F4 and a proven track record, Pulling is determined to achieve success in 2024.
Bianca Bustamante, the first junior driver for McLaren in F1, is another driver with the potential to be a title contender this year. Bustamante won races last season, but did not have the consistency of her championship-winning teammate, Marta Garcia. With the support of McLaren and ART Grand Prix, Bustamante aims to deliver a strong performance in her final season in the F1 Academy before seeking other opportunities.
In addition to standout rookies like Pin and Weug, several other rookies could surprise this season. Ferrari has Aurelia Nobels in the series, and although she faced challenges in the F4 UAE, she is a Ferrari-supported driver racing in the colors of the series partner, Puma. Tina Hausmann, supported by Aston Martin, will race alongside Pin and Weug at Prema. However, she faces a challenging task to keep up with her more experienced teammates. Another exciting rookie is Lia Block, the youngest driver to win a major American rally championship. Block will race as a junior driver for Williams and focus on scoring points rather than finishing on the podium. Chloe Chambers, a junior driver for Haas F1, has already shown promise in other series and is expected to perform better than her previous campaign in the W Series.
A surprise entry was introduced for the 2024 season, allowing the F1 Academy and Prema to support a unique entry of a local driver at each stage. For the Saudi Arabian GP, Reema Juffali, a Saudi driver with experience in British F4, GB3, and GT World Challenge Europe, was confirmed as the surprise entry. The series has not yet announced the surprise entries for the other stages in Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
The progress of the first F1 Academy champion, Marta Garcia, will be closely watched as she moves up to FRECA with Prema. Garcia’s career has had its ups and downs, but she showed her dominance in the F1 Academy last year, with seven victories. Her experience in the W Series will be invaluable as she enters FRECA as one of the most well-prepared rookies, alongside last year’s runner-up, Lena Buhler, who will race with ART GP.
The F1 Academy has made great strides since its inception, and this season it will have live timing and TV broadcasts of its races, similar to Formula 2 and Formula 3. Weekends have been condensed to two races instead of three, to accommodate the busy F1 schedule. This change allows the series to have a higher profile alongside F1, providing exposure for the drivers and teams. However, managing the increased attention will be crucial for the drivers and the series.
Ultimately, the F1 Academy has the opportunity to prove its worth and showcase the potential of future stars. The success of Garcia and Buhler in FRECA will be used to evaluate the quality of the series, but they are just the first champions from a long list of F1 Academy graduates. The series has grown and now has a larger platform to demonstrate its value. With the support of teams and F1, the F1 Academy can continue to nurture and develop young talent.
© 2024
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