F1 Academy showcases top talent at Autosport Awards

2024 Champion - Abbi Pulling

Watch: F1 ACADEMY champion - Abbi Pulling

Abbi Pulling sailed to victory in the 2024 F1 Academy season after dominating it from start to finish.

Representing Alpine and as part of the Rodin Motorsport line-up, she won nine out of the series’ 14 races, and didn’t leave the podium for the remainder.

Pulling had a unique championship experience, being named the 2024 champion on two separate occasions. She was originally crowned in Qatar after taking second in Race One.

Race Two was initially cancelled due to barrier repairs, but was then rescheduled for Abu Dhabi, the additional race meaning second-placed Doriane Pin was technically back in contention for the title.

But Pulling pulled off a triple-pole in Abu Dhabi which put her out of Pin’s reach, therefore crowning her champion once again.

As champion, Pulling has been awarded with a fully-funded seat with Rodin Motorsport in GB3 for 2025.

Pulling told Autosport: “It’s been such a dream of a year and it means so much because the series provides the champion a fully funded 2025 seat, which for me is priceless, and without that support I wouldn’t continue.

“I knew that I had to win going into the year, so to come out on top and get that prize is priceless for me.”

2nd place - Doriane Pin

Watch: Doriane Pin places runner up in the 2024 F1 ACADEMY

Pin’s debut season in F1 Academy has proven an impressive one, starting her campaign in winning style after taking a lights-to-flag victory in the first race in Saudi Arabia.

Seven podium finishes followed, with two further victories in the Netherlands and Qatar, which secured her championship runner-up spot.

Pin forms part of the victorious Prema line-up, with team-mates Maya Weug and Tina Hausmann helping to boost the Italian team into the top spot.

She is also part of the Mercedes Junior Team, and will continue with them in the series for 2025.

After announcing her return to the series, Pin said: “After becoming Vice Champion in F1 Academy in my maiden season, I am extremely motivated to go for the Drivers’ title in 2025.

“I will be pushing myself hard to improve over the winter and hopefully can enjoy an even stronger season next year.”

3rd place - Maya Weug

Watch: Maya Weug places third in the 2024 F1 ACADEMY season

Maya Weug finished third in the 2024 F1 Academy season after a podium-filled debut year in the series.

She took podiums in the first two races of the season in Jeddah, and after making some improvements to the car before Zandvoort, was on the podium a further six times, taking her well-deserved maiden victory in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

After the season ended, Weug told Autosport: “I think it’s been a tough season. I expected more from the season, especially the start of the season was really tough. We had some issues since pre-season testing and that went on until Barcelona race weekend.

“In Zandvoort, the car felt much better and the pace was back. It feels good to have finished the season on a high, almost every race on the podium after Zandvoort, except for race 1 and race 2 in Abu Dhabi.”

Weug represented Ferrari in 2024 as their first ever female Driver Academy member, and whether she will remain with the Scuderia for 2025 is yet to be confirmed.

Winning Team - Prema

Prema has proven triumphant once again in F1 Academy as they took their second-consecutive teams' championship in 2024.

After team member Weug held on to victory in the final race in Abu Dhabi, Prema claimed the title, beating Rodin Motorsport to the top spot with 423 points to Rodin’s 393.

Prema’s drivers Pin, Weug, and Hausmann took a combined total of four wins and 16 podium finishes.

In 2023, drivers Chloe Chong, Bianca Bustamante, and championship winner Marta García took the team to victory with 419 points to second-placed MP Motorsport’s 411.

Team Manager Camilla Colombo said: “I think winning the teams’ title is the best moment of the season.

“We look forward to winning a third title, and next year our drivers are as good as this year, so we have all the possibilities to win this title again.”

Prema is yet to confirm who will line up alongside Pin for 2025.

F1 Academy Rising Star - Luna Fluxa Cross

Watch: Rising Star - Luna Fluxa Cross

Luna Fluxa Cross has been named F1 Academy Rising Star after becoming the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy champion in the Seniors category.

Across the season, 14-year-old Fluxa Cross took six victories and nine podiums in the series’ 12 races, wrapping up the championship with one day remaining.

After taking the title, Fluxa Cross said: “I’m really happy to make history by being the second female to win an FIA Karting Championship since 1966.

“We’ll start testing in single-seater next year and I’m very looking forward to it.”

Fluxa Cross has been part of the Mercedes Junior Programme since 2022, and will continue with karting in 2025.

To find out winners at the Autosport Awards, go to autosport.com/awards