Abbi Pulling

Abbi Pulling is a 22-year-old British racing driver from Lincolnshire, England, who made history in 2024 as the first female driver to win a British F4 race and claimed the F1 Academy championship with a flawless podium record—standing on the box in all 14 races.

EARLY YEARS

Born circa 2003 in Lincolnshire, Pulling received her first go-kart at age 8, a gift that would set her life on an entirely different trajectory than she might have imagined. By age 9, in 2013, she was racing competitively, cutting her teeth in the Trent Valley Kart Club before moving up through the LGM Series, Super One Series, and Kartmasters British GP. The progression was typical for a young British karter with talent—but the funding challenges that came with it were equally typical, foreshadowing battles she’d face later in her career.

Pulling proved she had the chops early, winning back-to-back British Championships in 2017 and 2018. By 2018, she’d also clinched the Super One Series TKM Junior title and began dipping her toes into car racing with a part campaign in Ginetta Juniors. The following year, she competed in Ginetta GT5, but the real leap—the one that would test her resolve and her wallet—was still ahead.

OTHER INTERESTS

Off the track, Abbi describes herself as a “chatterbox,” which tracks for someone who’s spent years navigating the notoriously male-dominated paddock with confidence and charm. She enjoys singing, a creative outlet that offers a break from the relentless focus racing demands. Beyond that, details of her hobbies remain largely private—her public persona is laser-focused on the racing itself, which is exactly how she seems to like it.

EARLY SUCCESS

At 16, Pulling made the jump to single-seaters, joining JHR Developments for the 2020 British F4 season. She finished sixth overall with four podiums, a solid debut that suggested she had what it took to compete at the next level. But 2021 brought a harsh reality check: lack of funding forced her to withdraw mid-season after three podium finishes in 18 races. It was a gut punch, the kind of setback that derails careers before they even get started.

Yet Pulling didn’t disappear. Instead, she pivoted to the W Series, competing in four rounds in 2021 and immediately making an impression. She took pole position at Circuit of the Americas and finished second in the race, ending the season seventh overall. The performance caught the eye of Alpine, who brought her into their Academy program in 2022. That same year, she returned to W Series and finished fourth overall with another pole and podium, proving the 2021 result was no fluke.

Reflecting on the funding crisis that ended her 2021 F4 campaign, Pulling later admitted it turned out to be “one of the best things” that could have happened. “We did a test in an F4 car and I was quick,” she said, acknowledging that the forced break gave her time to regroup and come back stronger. It’s the kind of perspective that only comes from actually living through the disappointment—and refusing to let it define you.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017–2018: Won back-to-back British Kart Championships.
• 2018: Claimed Super One Series TKM Junior title.
• 2020: Finished sixth in British F4 with four podiums in her single-seater debut season with JHR Developments.
• 2021: Scored pole position and second place at Circuit of the Americas in W Series debut; finished seventh overall in just four rounds.
• 2022: Became an Alpine Academy Driver and finished fourth in W Series with one pole and one podium; made history as the first female to drive an F1 car in Saudi Arabia.
• 2023: Joined RODIN Carlin for F1 Academy’s inaugural season, finishing fifth overall with seven podiums and multiple poles and fastest laps.
• 2024: Became the first female driver to win a British F4 race, taking victory from pole at Brands Hatch GP in Race 5 with a commanding 5.5-second margin and fastest lap; finished seventh overall in British F4 with one win, three podiums, and one fastest lap.
• 2024: Scored the first female podium in GB3 at Brands Hatch GP and finished in the top 10 of the Driver’s Standings, helping RODIN Motorsport clinch the Team’s Championship.
• 2024: Dominated F1 Academy with nine wins, 10 pole positions, 14 podiums (every single race), and six fastest laps to claim the championship—the first driver in the series to achieve a perfect podium record.
• 2024: Swept all three pole positions at the F1 Academy season finale and won both races to secure the title with six points to spare.

INSPIRATIONS

Alice Powell, a fellow British racer and W Series veteran, served as Pulling’s coach during her W Series debut at Silverstone and played a key role in introducing her to Alpine. Beyond that formal mentorship, Pulling has kept her influences largely to herself—no public declarations of racing idols or childhood heroes. Perhaps that’s fitting for someone who’s been busy writing her own chapter in the history books rather than emulating someone else’s.

REPUTATION

At just 22, Pulling has earned a reputation as a driver with exceptional skill and serious potential. Media coverage has been overwhelmingly positive, focusing on her historic wins and rapid progression through the ranks. After her British F4 victory at Brands Hatch, outlets celebrated her as a trailblazer, and her F1 Academy dominance only reinforced the narrative that she’s one to watch. In the UK, “all eyes are on” her as a homegrown star making waves in a sport still grappling with gender equity.

Her relationship with Alpine lasted through 2024, transitioning from Academy driver to Affiliate status after her 2022 W Series campaign. Following her F1 Academy title, she departed Alpine to focus on her partnership with Rodin Cars, where she became the team’s first female ambassador—a role that signals both her marketability and the confidence the team has in her future. She’s also taken on mentoring responsibilities, supporting Rodin teammate Ella Lloyd and participating in the 2025 F1 Academy rookie test in a supporting role. It’s a sign that she’s not just focused on her own success but invested in lifting others up—an approach that’s earned her respect in the paddock.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

In 2025, Pulling will compete full-time in the GB3 Championship with Rodin Cars, joining teammates Alex Ninovic and Gianmarco Pradel. The move represents a natural step up from her part-time GB3 campaign in 2024, where she proved she could run at the front with the first female podium in the series. She’ll also play a supporting and mentoring role during the F1 Academy rookie test in September, passing along what she’s learned to the next generation of female racers.

Looking back on her 2024 season—juggling F1 Academy, British F4, and GB3—Pulling called the dual campaign “an absolute dream,” crediting the support of Alpine and Rodin for making it possible. It’s unclear exactly how high she’s aiming long-term, but the trajectory suggests someone who isn’t content to plateau. She’s already rewritten the record books multiple times. The question now isn’t whether she belongs—it’s how far she’ll go.

References:

Abbi Pulling Official Website
Wikipedia: Abbi Pulling
Autosport: Abbi Pulling Coverage
Goodwood: Abbi Pulling Profile
GB3 Official: Abbi Pulling
Mission Magazine: Abbi Pulling Feature
Voice In Sport: Abbi Pulling Interview
F1 Academy: Abbi Pulling Profile