3 days ago
Inside Netflix's F1: The Academy: Abbi Pulling and the stars ready to shatter racing's glass ceiling
When Abbi Pulling was first asked to join the cast of Netflix's F1: The Academy, she never anticipated the level of attention the series would bring to her pursuit of a Formula 1 dream. With the show landing on the streamer this week, Pulling is about to face a world of scrutiny — but, as she says, it's a 'privilege' and a responsibility.
This docuseries is more than just another show about motorsport. It shines a spotlight on the F1 Academy, a women's-only racing competition, which runs as a support series to the main F1 Grand Prix. Following the success of Drive to Survive, the show gives viewers an exclusive look behind the scenes of a sport traditionally dominated by men, showcasing what it really takes to break barriers in one of the world's most demanding industries.
The series goes beyond the high-speed races, offering a deeper look at the grit, determination, and passion of the women competing for a fully-funded season in the prestigious GB3 Championship, a single-seater racing series based in the UK.
Pulling, 22, who races for Alpine on the show, is the star of the series as she chases the 2024 title. 'It's a huge opportunity,' she told The Standard at Wednesday's London premiere. 'I'm quite scared about what the next week will bring because people are going to either love me or hate me — so we'll see.
'But it's amazing to be here and seeing so much attention on not only women's motorsport but women's sport as a whole. It's another big thing to boost women's sport and hope it helps not just within motorsport but sport as a whole.'
The series aims to provide a deep dive into the lives and careers of these rising stars. 'I'm just excited for viewers to see everyone's story and everyone's journey and what everyone has been through, gone through in 2024 and understand what it takes to be a racing car driver,' she added.
'It's such a privilege and we're all so lucky to be here and I'm so happy for the opportunity and to be racing again this year, moving onto a bigger car, a different challenge. It's really exciting and I hope people see that journey and resonate with it or relate to it in show way and the challenges that you've got to face.'
Pulling's 2024 F1 Academy title journey has been nothing short of dramatic. Despite her 83-point lead over Mercedes' Doriane Pin, a change in the Abu Dhabi schedule meant Pulling still had to secure pole positions at Yas Marina to guarantee her win.
The series' creation has a high-profile backing, with Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine behind the production.
'I met her at the premiere in Miami,' Pulling shared. 'She's so lovely and passionate about motorsport. The whole crew were incredible and really respectful of us. It's a high-intensity environment, and having cameras in your face for both good and bad moments... it was done respectfully. I'm excited for people to see it.'
And the excitement isn't just limited to Pulling.
Fellow driver Amna Al Qubaisi, who shares the track with her sister Hamda, teased: "You'll see a lot of girls being competitive and very passionate about the sport. I think it's going to be more dramatic than Drive to Survive."
American driver Chloe Chambers echoed that enthusiasm, saying, 'I am so excited for this to come out. I really hope people watch it, enjoy it, and want to watch more F1 Academy. That's what I'm looking forward to.'
For Bianca Bustamante, the series represents the hard work and dedication of all the drivers involved. 'Everyone has worked so hard to make this a reality,' she said.
F1: The Academy is available to stream on Netflix now
