ABBI PULLING’s Netflix Spotlight Shows What F1 Academy Champions Are Made Of

June 15, 2025

by Kanzah Maktoum // from www.forbes.com

• ABBI PULLING opens up about her dominant 2024 F1 Academy championship in Netflix’s new documentary series, revealing the emotional weight of racing while grieving her grandmother’s death and the mental reset that led to her perfect podium record. The 22-year-old champion didn’t step off the podium once all season after struggling with pressure and expectations in 2023, working with performance specialists to refocus on what she could actually control.
• The Netflix series captures more than just racing—it shows PULLING’s vulnerability as cameras follow her from her grandmother’s funeral straight into championship battles, documenting family moments that even made her reserved father cry. This level of access is unprecedented for junior drivers, and PULLING hopes the visibility will translate into the financial backing and brand partnerships that women in motorsport desperately need to advance their careers.
• Now competing in GB3 Championship with faster, more challenging cars, PULLING delivered an impressive fourth-place qualifying and fifth-place finish at Silverstone but acknowledges the technical struggles at Zandvoort and Spa don’t reflect her true capabilities. While the documentary provides crucial exposure that no other junior drivers receive, it also highlights the gap between visibility and actual equity—cameras won’t solve sponsorship disparities or institutional barriers that still make the racing ladder harder for women to climb.

all-female f1 academy, formula 1, gb3 championship, netflix