Interview
Chambers plotting plan of attack for switched-up Qualifying after setting the pace in Yas Marina Practice
There was no better way for Chloe Chambers to kick off the final round of the 2024 F1 ACADEMY season than by topping a session for the first time, outside of her Barcelona Race 2 win.
A late burst with three minutes to go in Practice promoted the Haas driver to the top of the timing sheet with a 1:56.175. Less than two tenths covered the top four, with her finishing ahead of Abbi Pulling, Doriane Pin and Hamda Al Qubaisi.
Having qualified at the tail end of the field last time out in Lusail in P12 and P16, Chambers was happy to be back on form and she hopes that it’s a sign of things to come at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“I haven’t topped a Practice session this year and I haven’t topped a Quali, so hopefully this weekend will be two new sessions to top,” she said. “A really good session overall, a bit of a complete flip-flop from Qatar.
“Last time I was on track, I was gridded up in last place, so to be able to turn it around like that was really good. I think overall the pace during testing here was really good, so I think Quali should be a really nice session for us. With three pole positions on the line, I’m hoping to get a couple more trophies to add to the cabinet this weekend.”
Satisfied with her setup so far, Chambers says it’s all about fine-tuning the Campos Racing car going forward, but nothing is set in stone yet as they set about devising a game-plan for the amended Qualifying format this weekend.
Vying for three pole positions with her three fastest laps, she believes just being quick won’t be good enough — she’ll need to be consistently quick around a track that won’t make that a simple task.
READ MORE: PRACTICE: Chambers goes fastest in final 2024 Practice around Yas Marina
“It’s always difficult to tell what the track will be like, especially running after F1, F2 and F4 UAE,” Chambers explained. “The track will be quite different. It’ll also be night-time, so the track temperature will be lower.
“Right now, we’re still trying to work out what our plan is for Qualifying because we have to now set three laps. It’ll be a little bit different this time around, but I think we’ll work out a solid plan.
“We still have concepts of a plan, if you know what I mean. It’ll be an interesting session, I think probably one of the most interesting Qualifying sessions this year.”
She added: “For sure, this will be the toughest one (Qualifying). Putting three good laps together is a challenge at any track, but especially here in Abu Dhabi with the different types of corners that you have here.
“Traffic is also probably going to come into effect. I think it will be a pretty hectic Qualifying session, but I’m excited to see what happens.”
Marking her final weekend in Haas colours before her move to Red Bull Ford for the 2025 campaign, Chambers sits two points behind Nerea Martí in fourth, with 84 points to play for.
Brimming with confidence, she isn’t ruling herself out of the top three fight, as long as she can overhaul the 32-point deficit to Ferrari’s Maya Weug in third.
“For sure, I can overtake Nerea in the Standings and get fourth,” she asserted. “But I’m still kind of within the points gap right now for third and I think if I have a really solid weekend this time around and Maya doesn’t, then I think I can catch up to her.
“There are a lot of points still on the line and a lot to lose as well. If I keep doing what I’ve been doing so far, then I think I can get close to third, if not overtake for third in the Standings. (…) And hopefully another win!”