RACE 2: Pulling secures another victory in Yas Marina as she comes out on top in battle with Chambers

Abbi Pulling successfully secured a second win of the day as she came out on top in a close fight with Haas’ Chloe Chambers to achieve her ninth F1 ACADEMY victory this season.

After losing the lead on the opening lap to Chambers, pole-sitter Pulling was able wrestle back the lead when the American driver made a crucial mistake at the halfway point of the race.

From there the 2024 F1 ACADEMY Champion was able to hold position all the way until the chequered flag, with Chambers ultimately finishing second and Hamda Al Qubaisi achieving back-to-back top three results.

It was a strong start to proceedings for Pulling, who maintained first place as she led the grid away for Race 2. Behind her, Chambers stayed close and was ready to pounce when Pulling suffered a big lock up into Turn 6 on the opening lap.

Chambers successfully made her move for the lead into Turn 9, snatching it up the inside of Pulling, and from there she created a gap up front of half a second to the Alpine-backed driver, with Hamda Al Qubaisi sitting in third.

Mercedes driver Doriane Pin was another to make moves early on as she managed to advance to fourth, taking advantage of a slow start for Bianca Bustamante that dropped the McLaren racer down to seventh on the first lap.

There was also drama towards the back of the field, as the Kick Sauber's Carrie Schreiner got caught up in contact with Lola Lovinfosse, which forced her to retire. The Charlotte Tilbury driver was subsequently handed a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision.

That incident resulted in Amna Al Qubaisi, Aurelia Nobels and Logan Hannah having to take avoiding action – with the Stewards then handing Amna Al Qubaisi a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

At the halfway point of the race, Chambers still only had a half-second lead but made a crucial error by going too deep into Turn 12. With Pulling so close behind, the 2024 champion wasted no time in comfortably taking back the lead of the race.

Behind the battle at the front, Pin was right on the gearbox of Hamda Al Qubaisi as they fought for third place, but it soon appeared that French driver's tyres were starting to struggle as a result.

The battle for fifth was also gripping, with Nerea Martí and Maya Weug battling it out as they had done in Race 1 earlier in the day. After keeping Weug at bay for most of the race, the Ferrari-backed car eventually got past on Lap 10 with Martí now having to fend off Bustamante who was snapping at her heels.

Although still to serve her 10-second penalty, Amna Al Qubaisi was getting her elbows out and fighting MP Motorsport teammate Emely De Heus with three laps to go. Tina Hausmann and Lia Block also got involved in the battle for eighth, but Block was soon on the receiving end of a five-second penalty for a jump start.

Hausmann then pulled off a sensational overtake around the outside of Al Qubaisi to take ninth, with Block getting past the RB driver only a lap later for 10th.

On Lap 12, the yellow flags were out after a collision between Lovinfosse and Jessica Edgar after the Charlotte Tilbury driver attempted a pass on the inside at Turn 9. The move saw her hit the kerb and a bollard, tagging Edgar and clipping Nobels in the process. Edgar was able to limp to a safe space off the circuit, but a Safety Car had to be called on with Lovinfosse's machine needing to be recovered.

With the race ending under Safety Car conditions, Pulling could cruise home to claim her ninth win of the season, with Chambers taking her fourth piece of silverware this year. Hamda Al Qubaisi, meanwhile, could celebrate consecutive podiums at her home race in Abu Dhabi.

Pin had to settle for fourth, with Weug keeping fifth place, while Martí crossed the finish line in sixth ahead of Bustamante. De Heus continued her impressive pace in Yas Marina to pick up more points by classifying in eighth, with Hausmann finishing ninth.

Away-branded F1 ACADEMY Wild Card Logan Hannah earned her first point after being promoted up to 10th place thanks to the penalties for Block and Amna Al Qubaisi dropping them to P12 and P13 respectively.

WHAT'S NEXT?

It's time to rest before Race 3 tomorrow. Pulling will once again set off from pole when the lights go out at 11:15 local time.