F1 Academy raced over the Singapore Grand Prix weekend and for championship leader, Abbi Pulling, it was “as close to perfection as you can really get” in a season that’s been an “absolute whirlwind”.В?
2024 marks the second season of the all-female single-seater championship, F1 Academy. With 15 full-time drivers and Wild Card entries, there are several drivers to keep your eye on.
But the dominant racer of the championship is Alpine Junior, Abbi Pulling. The British driver is currently competing in her second campaign in F1 Academy, whilst also racing in the British F4 Championship.
Pulling’s first year in F1 Academy saw her finish fifth in the standings, 103 points behind the inaugural champion, Marta García. However, this year has been one to remember for Pulling.
She currently has a 95 point lead over her title rival, Doriane Pin. The Mercedes-backed driver has won two races this season and Chloe Chambers has won one.
Pulling was on the podium for those races, meaning she has stood on the podium for each race all season, adding to her total of seven race victories.
And in Singapore, Pulling not only won both races, but she achieved pole position for both races, the fastest time in free practice and she took the fastest lap in Race 2. She spoke to FormulaNerds about her weekend in Singapore as well as her season as a whole.
‘An absolute whirlwind’ of a season
Following the F1 Academy weekend in Singapore, Pulling spoke to FormulaNerds. We asked her about her successful season, after having a perfect weekend around the Marina Bay Circuit. In response, Pulling said:
“It was almost a perfect weekend, but I missed out on the fastest lap in Race 1, but that’s as close to perfection as you can really get and it was so special to do it in a place like Singapore.
“Going into the race weekend, I was really really excited and I really wanted to come home with a good result, mainly because of the location and the venue — the first time the championship have been to Asia.”
Pulling continued touching on the season as a whole and what has been working well for her this year. She said:
“This season so far, it’s been an absolute whirlwind and it’s all just been coming together each race weekend, thanks to the team and myself and the prep that we’re doing.
“I’ve said it before, last year, I think I was capable of what I’m doing now, but just for whatever reason, it didn’t all come together, whether it was my fault or something out of my control.
“Whereas this year, it’s been faultless from the team’ side and my side, so I think that’s why it’s seemed like such an incredible year. I’m just making sure to savour every moment.”
Double victory and fastest lap for Abbi Pulling, dominating in Singapore and taking her 7th win! ?⚡#F1Academy #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/9NCqAxCzYN
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) September 22, 2024
The impact of British F4
As mentioned above, Pulling isn’t only competing in F1 Academy this year. She is racing for Rodin Motorsport in the British F4 Championship as well, meaning she gets double the time in F4-level machinery.
After Singapore, FormulaNerds asked Pulling about the impact of competing in two championships has on her and she admitted that “it’s been really fun” building different things she learns into her overall skillset. Speaking to us, Pulling said:
“I’m so luck that I’ve been able to have the opportunity to have the additional track time. The two cars are actually, although they look identical, quite different and it’s not just the wings that are the different.
“The tyre compound is quite a bit different and also, going from 60-degree track temps and 40-degree ambient temperature in Singapore and then yesterday at Brands Hatch in 10-degrees. It is quite a lot of adapting back and forth.
“But I think your biggest strength as a racing driver is your adaption and I think it’s helped in the likes of Singapore. I said every session felt different, so you have to focus on your inputs and what you can do as a driver to help the balance of the car.
“Especially in F4-level machinery, the biggest thing you can do to fix your understeer/oversteer half the time is the inputs you’re putting into the car.
“So, it’s been really fun building that into my skillset.”
The next F1 Academy race weekend is at the end of November in Qatar. Pulling has a 95-point lead but there are still lots of points up for grabs, so the championship isn’t over yet.
Headline image: GettyImages