Academy Report: Luke and Lia's Last Race of 2024

Two members of the Williams Racing Driver Academy were on track straight off the back of their weekend in Qatar.

And it was a busy time for Luke Browning and Lia Block in Abu Dhabi as the pair spent more time in the cockpit than in any of their previous weekends on the F1 support bill.

Luke tackled Formula 2's final round and his maiden FP1, while Lia raced in three races across two days in a bumper ending to F1 Academy's 2024 season.

Here's how they handled Yas Marina.

A personal best finish in the championship that Luke has only had three weekends racing in was a great way to end his foray into F2.

Luke secured a P6 classification in Saturday's Sprint Race, just one day after enjoying the speed of the FW46 in his first F1 Free Practice session.

The busy opening lap saw Luke reach P11 from his P15 start and he spent the early trips around the Yas Marina Circuit duelling with championship contender Isack Hadjar.

By staying out of trouble and keeping his cool, Luke closely followed the rear wing of Ritomo Miyata, who carried a time penalty, and reached P7 by the chequered flag as others crashed out or garnered the stewards' attention.

That morphed into P6 after a post-race disqualification for a podium finisher, netting Luke three points.

Those proved the only points from Abu Dhabi this time, though, as the alternate strategy in the Feature Race didn't pan out. Luke eventually finished P15, which was where he started his final race with ART GP from.

He will now enjoy more running in the FW46 for the post-season test as he gears up for 2025 and a full season in F2.

The results table for Lia's three-race weekend don't tell the full story of what was another encouraging few days of single-seater action for our F1 Academy rookie.

Lia secured a P7 finish in the championship despite not taking points in Yas Marina, and that will give our American a lot to be hopeful about for 2025 when she returns to the series.

Race 1 had Lia's ART car dropping a few positions off the line, and losing out to a rival who went beyond track limits at Turn 2 to complete a pass.

Her race really came undone at the sweeping Turn 9 left-hander later that after the race leader's unsafe rejoin after a spinning.

Lia had to avoid the car by going off the track and lost further positions, eventually grabbing P12 after post-race penalties were given.

The true pace of Lia's car was on show in Race 2, where she ran P8 in the opening corners, but lost positions as others cut the Turn 6 chicane.

Nonetheless, Lia kept on the rear wings of those ahead, and even a five-second penalty for a false start was in hand, thanks to her speed in opening up a wide gap behind.

Unfortunately, a late-race Safety Car bunched up the pack, and Lia's hopes of more 2024 points fell away. Those chasing her could close in those five seconds by the race's end, with another P12 classification for our driver.

More penalty pain hit in Race 3, where a combined 15 seconds of punishment dropped Lia from the podium places to P15.

That demotion overshadows a brave move on Emely de Heus at Turn 1, and what is undoubtedly her overtake of 2024, when she took P4 on the outside of the double left-hander at Turns 13 and 14 under the hotel.

The Williams Racing Driver Academy will be raring to go in 2025 as our representatives get set for new seasons, with many in new championships and teams.