Teenager impressing in W Series has her sights set on F1 and says new deal with Alpine is helping her on the road to the top
From insisting on riding only the fastest horse as a child to galloping around the world’s grand prix circuits, Abbi Pulling has long had the need for speed. Formula One is the goal for this determined, talented youngster who, having grown up admiring Lewis Hamilton, is convinced she may yet break the glass ceiling of what the seven-time champion has decried as F1’s “billionaire boys’ club”. Change is coming, Pulling is in the vanguard.
Now in her first full season in the all-female W Series, Lincolnshire’s Pulling has already made a real impression. The series, which covers all the costs of its drivers, has revived the 19-year-old’s dream of making it to F1, as has being taken on by the Alpine F1 team as an affiliate to their young driver programme. She is second in the championship to Britain’s Jamie Chadwick, who has won the previous two W Series titles. This season’s fourth round will be held on Saturday at Paul Ricard before Sunday’s French Grand Prix.