Last weekend in Qatar, F1 Academy’s Sunday race was cancelled because of barrier damage caused by a Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East car. It was later rescheduled as the third race of the final round in Abu Dhabi. Several F1 Academy drivers told Feeder Series they were excited by the change in format. 

By Calla Kra-Caskey

Shortly after last Sunday’s race was cancelled, F1 Academy confirmed that Doriane Pin would still receive two points for her pole position. On Tuesday, an additional race in Abu Dhabi was announced; however, series organisers announced that the new race would not use the previously set grid but would instead have its grid determined by each driver’s third-best qualifying lap.

As usual, each driver who lines up first on the final starting grid for each race will receive two points for pole position, meaning that the championship officially gained two points. This had the unintended side effect of putting Pin back in contention for the title that Abbi Pulling sealed last Saturday. The British driver needed only a singular point this weekend to retake the title but has already provisionally scored six with a triple pole position.

The schedule change has ramifications beyond just the championship battle. In a series with an already limited number of races, every moment on track is important. 

“I was really happy when I heard there was three races this weekend,” Aurelia Nobels told Feeder Series at Thursday’s pre-event media session. “It’s good to have more time on track, and I really enjoy Abu Dhabi as well. It’s going to be really fun. It’s a shame we did not have the race in Qatar, but at least we have a third race here, which is really good.” 

Emirati driver Amna Al Qubaisi is driving in her second year of F1 Academy and will be required to leave the series after this year. 

“For me, I would say having my third race here in my home track is actually amazing,” she said. “What a way to end it with three races here, so I’m super happy that it was cancelled in Qatar, even if I shouldn’t say it.” 

“For me, I prefer the Abu Dhabi track a bit better and I feel a bit more confident, so I’m not too, too mad that we didn’t get a second race in Qatar,” Williams junior Lia Block said. “I also didn’t have a great position there, so I’m happy to have a third race this weekend.”

The single-seater rookie qualified eighth for the second Qatar race, tied for her worst qualifying position since the Miami round back in May. She will start the three Abu Dhabi races tenth, eighth and eighth.

Overtaking is difficult in Qatar because of the flowing nature of the track and the absence of any heavy breaking zones. Block said she also hoped for “some better racing because of these long straights” at Yas Marina. 

Header photo credit: Dutch Photo Agency