How Pulling can win the F1 ACADEMY title in Qatar – and what Pin needs to do to keep the fight alive

There are high stakes heading into the penultimate round of the 2024 F1 ACADEMY season, with both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles hanging in the balance.

Whilst the three-way battle between PREMA Racing, Rodin Motorsport and Campos Racing is set to go down to a season-defining finale in Abu Dhabi, Abbi Pulling’s commanding lead means the odds are in her favour to secure the title in Lusail.

But how can the Alpine driver be crowned Champion this weekend, and what does Doriane Pin need to do to keep herself in the running? Let’s take a look at the answers to all your burning title fight questions…

HOW MANY POINTS ARE STILL TO PLAY FOR IN THE DRIVERS’ STANDINGS?

In total, a maximum of 112 points are up for grabs across the final two race weekends. To achieve this, a driver would need to bring home each of the four available race wins — which award 25 points each — four pole positions and take the point on offer for the fastest lap at every race.

This haul has yet to be achieved by any driver so far this season. Pulling came close in Miami and Singapore after sweeping both poles and victories in each round but missed out on the bonus point for the fastest lap in the first races there.

WHEN IS THE EARLIEST PULLING CAN WIN THE TITLE?

Mathematically, Pulling could clinch the title as early as Race 1 in Qatar. Her 95-point advantage over Pin means that if she scores 18 points across the weekend, she’ll become the series’ second Champion, regardless of where the Mercedes driver finishes as it would push her on to an unbeatable 263 points.

To do this on Saturday night, a victory, a P2 finish or third with the two points for pole and the fastest lap point would guarantee her the title, or third with the fastest lap as Pulling would win any hypothetical tie on countback. Additionally, she would automatically take the title if she holds an 84-point lead.

If the battle were to continue on into Race 2, a lead of 56 points or more by the end of Sunday afternoon’s event would be enough to see her reign victorious before the Abu Dhabi season finale.

WHAT DOES PIN NEED TO DO TO KEEP THE TITLE FIGHT GOING TO ABU DHABI?

Pin needs to outscore Pulling by at least 12 points in Qualifying and Race 1 in order to keep her chances of beating the Alpine driver alive into Race 2.

Beyond that, the French racer needs pretty much perfection in every remaining points-paying session to make inroads into Pulling’s sizeable advantage.

Victory in the final four races would boost her 150-point total by 108 points, whilst the addition of the remaining fastest lap points would take her total up to 262.

A tie between the two is also mathematically possible if Pulling scores only 17 points and Pin reaches the 262-mark. On countback, the title would go Pulling’s way as the Briton has seven race wins to Pin’s two, and the Mercedes junior can only reach a maximum of six going forward.

IS ANYONE ELSE STILL IN TITLE CONTENTION?

Beyond the leading duo, no other driver in the 2024 field is in the running for the Drivers’ title. However, Maya Weug, Chloe Chambers, Nerea Martí and Hamda Al Qubaisi are locked in a battle for the final top three spot — separated by 33 points.

Ferrari driver Weug leads the way on 120 points and could even overhaul her PREMA Racing teammate Pin for second if she can bridge her 30-point deficit.

Chambers is 17 points behind Weug in fourth, with fellow Campos Racing driver Martí only two points back. Red Bull Racing’s Hamda Al Qubaisi sits furthest adrift in sixth on 87 points.

PREMA VS RODIN VS CAMPOS – HOW IS THE BATTLE FOR THE TEAMS’ TITLE UNFOLDING?

Overall, 244 points still remain on the table, with a maximum of 122 points available to the teams per round.

Defending Champions PREMA are in the driving seat in the Teams’ Standings thanks to Pin, Weug and Aston Martin’s Tina Hausmann, but only by the skin of their teeth.

The Italian outfit hold a narrow seven-point lead over nearest rivals Rodin, who’s charge is led by Pulling, American Express driver Jessica Edgar and Charlotte Tilbury’s Lola Lovinfosse. Campos still have a mathematical chance of winning, but Chambers, Martí and Kick Sauber’s Carrie Schreiner would need to overhaul a 59-point deficit.