Doriane Pin, from Prema Racing, emerged victorious in the first race of the 2024 Formula 1 Academy season. The junior Mercedes driver showcased her skills, while Abbi Pulling, from Alpine Academy, finished in second place, very close behind.
The race took place in the afternoon, offering different conditions compared to the qualifying session held on Thursday night. These conditions were more representative of daytime practice sessions.
Pin was the standout during practice, dominating the activities and securing pole position twice.
The race had a false start, resulting in a delay and increasing the anticipation among the 16 drivers. They were eventually released for an extra formation lap.
As the race began, Pin quickly took the lead, closely followed by Pulling and Weug. The 16 cars navigated the first chicane without incident.
With 27 corners and junior formula cars with limited power, the pack remained close on the first lap as drivers sought to take advantage of slipstreaming.
By the end of the first lap, Pin was still in the lead, followed by Pulling, Weug, Nerea Martí supported by Tommy Hilfiger, and Lola Lovinfosse supported by Charlotte Tilbury.
The top five drivers managed to open a gap to the rest of the pack as the second lap unfolded. However, Bianca Bustamante, from McLaren, suffered a punctured tire and received instructions from her team to pit. She faced strong pressure from the drivers behind her, led by Chloe Chambers from Haas.
Despite the punctured tire, Bustamante decided to stay on track during the third lap. Meanwhile, Chambers and other drivers attempted to overtake her. This resulted in Bustamante dropping to seventh place, but the punctured tire did not materialize.
At the back of the pack, Reema Juffali, who was a special guest, spun on the third lap. Amna Al Qubaisi, supported by RB, also got involved in the incident.
Juffali reported to her team over the radio that Al Qubaisi had collided with the rear of her car, causing the RB machine to lose its front wing. This incident led to the entry of the Safety Car.
The Safety Car period came to an end when the pack completed the fourth lap of the 12-lap race. Pin controlled the pace of the pack, slowing down before the final corner and accelerating on the start/finish straight.
Pin had a smooth restart, while Pulling successfully defended against Weug, a driver from the Ferrari Academy.
One lap later, Pulling was less than a second behind leader Pin, and Martí was a few seconds behind Weug in third place.
Meanwhile, Tina Hausmann challenged Lia Block for eighth place at the final corner of lap 6. Jess Edgar tried to overtake both, but ended up puncturing her tire after making contact with the front wing of Hausmann and dropped down the order.
With five laps to go, Pin was one second ahead of Pulling, who had now built a two-second gap over Weug. Martí was in fourth place, just ahead of Lovinfosse. Chambers, Bustamante, Block, and Hausmann completed the order up to ninth place.
A battle for tenth place unfolded throughout the race, with Auerlia Nobels, supported by Puma, bravely defending against Hamda Al Qubaisi from Red Bull Racing. Al Qubaisi went off track at the first corner of lap nine, briefly taking the tenth position, but had to give it back for gaining an advantage off track.
The fight for the final point of the championship resulted in a train of five cars, all close to each other.
This battle ended up being for ninth and tenth place when Block spun and hit the wall on the penultimate lap, after driving aggressively over a kerb.
Martí was spun out of the race at the beginning of the final lap, touched by Lovinfosse at Turn 1 entry.
Meanwhile, Pin maintained the lead to win the race and secure the first victory of the 2024 Formula 1 Academy season.
Pulling remained less than a second behind his rival to claim second place and also set the fastest lap. Weug finished six seconds behind to complete the podium.
Chambers finished in fourth place, with Lovinfosse crossing the finish line in fifth. However, his involvement in Martí’s retirement may affect his final result.
Bustamante finished in sixth place, followed by Hausmann, Nobels, H. Al Qubaisi, and Sauber’s Carrie Schreiner in the top 10.
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Brazilian driver, Pedro Silva, achieved an exciting victory in the Formula 1 Grand Prix this Sunday. With an impressive display of skill and speed, Silva overtook his competitors and crossed the finish line in first place. This victory is a milestone in the young driver’s career, who now becomes a name to watch in the world of motorsport.
The race was full of excitement from start to finish. Right from the start, Silva showed his determination by gaining several positions and placing himself among the leaders. During the following laps, he maintained a steady pace, avoiding mistakes and seizing opportunities to overtake his opponents.
In the final third of the race, Silva made an incredible move to take the lead. With a daring overtake, he left his competitors behind and headed for victory. The fans at the racetrack cheered for the Brazilian driver’s performance, showing courage and skill in every turn.
After the race, Silva expressed his happiness with the victory and thanked his team for their hard work. He also highlighted the importance of the support from fans and promised to continue giving his best in every race. With this victory, Silva positions himself as one of the favorites for the Formula 1 world championship.
The next race of the championship will be held in two weeks, and fans are already eager to see if Silva will be able to maintain his impressive performance. Meanwhile, the other drivers will have to work hard to reach the level of skill and determination demonstrated by the Brazilian.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix continues to be one of the most exciting and prestigious competitions in the world of motorsport. With adrenaline-filled races and talented drivers, each stage of the championship brings unique thrills and unforgettable moments. Fans are always eager for more and hope that the next race will be as exciting as the last.
