F1 Academy returns to action for the first time since June! Round 4 preview - Netherlands

F1 Academy paddock preparing on Thursday ahead of the weekend of round 4 at Zandvoort. Credit: James Sutton via Getty Images

​F1 Academy returns to action this coming weekend for the first time in two months, for round four of seven in the 2024 championship - taking place at the Zandvoort circuit, in the Netherlands.

Zandvoort played host to a round in the inaugural season of the F1 Academy Championship back in 2023 and will return once again for the 2024 championship for the final of two European rounds taking place in F1 Academy, in 2024.

Last time in Spain, Abbi Pulling and Chloe Chambers were the race winners in the two races taking place at the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya. Pulling claiming her fourth win of the season, while Chloe Chambers taking her first win of the season.

​Pulling has a 66-point advantage over Doriane Pin and Chambers, who are second and third in the standings level on points (81). Alpine Academy and Rodin Motorsport driver has 147 points to her name.

A look at the track and last year's action: Zandvoort, Netherlands

​For the second time in F1 Academy, the championship heads to Zandvoort, after the Dutch circuit was used in the 2023 championship.

It is a circuit that many of the drivers will be familiar with as nine of the 16 drivers set to compete this weekend raced in the F1 Academy round at Zandvoort last season. Hamda Al Qubaisi and Carrie Schreiner, currently on the F1 Academy grid, shared the glory as they won the three races that weekend with Al Qubaisi winning race 1 and race 3 with Schreiner winning race 2.

The circuit of which the drivers will have to master is 4.259km and the layout is formed of 14 corners.

There is no DRS in F1 Academy but the Zandvoort circuit still presents overtaking opportunities down the start/finish straight, if the banked final corner is used to great effect. Other overtaking opportunities are also available into turn 10.

Hamda Al Qubaisi has the lap record in F1 Academy, at Zandvoort. The driver from UAE set a 1:35.926 last year for her team MP Motorsport.

In the two races to come across the weekend, there will be 17 laps in each one, giving a chance for a lot of action to happen across Saturday and Sunday.

​As with the 2024 format, there will be two practice sessions on Friday, with qualifying taking place on Saturday morning. Race 1 will happen on Saturday evening and race 2 will take place on Sunday morning.

Nina Gademan: Wildcard entry for round 4

​Dutch driver Nina Gademen will become the wildcard driver to participate in round 4 at Zandvoort to make it 16 participants for this coming weekend's event.

Gademen currently races in British Formula 4 for Fortec Motorsport and sits 20th in the standings. The 20-year old from Wijster, Netherlands will take he fourth Prema car, which is used for the wildcard entries participating in the 2024 F1 Academy Championship.

The Dutch girl picked up her maiden British F4 podium at the Thruxton circuit earlier this year, in a great achievement. Also in her career so far, she took part in the 2022 24 hours of Zolder in the TB class - being part of an all female lineup.

As well as her career on the track, she has made a name for herself as an e-sports content creator as well as having her own YouTube channel.

​Gademen will have the opportunity to compete at her home round, at Zandvoort and will be backed by The Female Quotient, and will run their livery on her across the three days of action.

​Last time out: Round 3 - Spain

​The most recent piece of on-track F1 Academy action will be exactly two months from Friday's action, as round 3 concluded on June 23, in Spain, at the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya.

Action was of plenty at the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya with the entire weekend having drama and thrilling action.

For qualifying on the Saturday morning, it would chop and change a lot but just like round 2, in Miami, Abbi Pulling had her fastest and second fastest time being quicker than everyone else's.

Therefore, the British Alpine Academy talent, driving for Rodin Motorsport, would take pole position for both races. The championship leader would be in a good position to extend her points lead.

Abbi Pulling would convert pole to victory easily enough in race 1 as she would claim her fourth win out of the first five races of the season, to extend her lead once again. Pulling would finish almost five seconds clear of home girl Nerea Marti, who finished for second.

Marti, driving for Campos and backed by Tommy Hilfiger, would finish on the podium at her home event. Haas-backed American Chloe Chambers finished third to complete the podium result.

Sunday and attention would turn to race 2 with Pulling once again would start from pole position. However, she would be denied her fifth victory of the position as she would be beaten by Chloe Chambers, who would take victory in Barcelona.

​A fantastic and dominant display by Chambers, would see her beat Pulling by over six seconds. Pulling would finish second ahead of Hamda Al Qubaisi, who would pick up third place and complete the podium positions.

Can anyone stop Abbi Pulling heading into round 4

​Excitement is building for F1 Academy fans ahead of the return of the series at Zandvoort this coming weekend, as there is interest of seeing these junior drivers to develop and progress their careers.

This is a circuit that presents a lot of challenges and ones that the drivers will have to get to grips within the two practice sessions on Friday ahead of the competitive qualifying and races on Saturday and Sunday.

With the 66-point lead that championship lead Abbi Pulling has over her closest competitors, in Doriane Pin and Chloe Chambers, this is a critical round, with eight races remaining, including this coming weekend.

​Action begins on Friday morning, with free practice 1.

2024 F1 Academy Championship: Round 4 - Netherlands Session times

Track Times

• Free Practice 1 23/08: 10:10-10:50
• Free Practice 2 23/08: 17:30-18:10
• Qualifying 24/08: 10:15-10:45
• Race 1 24/08: 16:05-16:35
• Race 2 25/08: 10:40-11:10

UK Time

• Free Practice 1 23/08: 09:10-09:50
• Free Practice 2 23/08: 16:30-17:10
• Qualifying 24/08: 09:15-09:45
• Race 1 24/08: 16:05-16:35
• Race 2 25/08: 09:40-10:10

Brandon Whiteside
​Writer - F1 Journal