Esteban Ocon praised Alpine Academy Driver Abbi Pulling for a “super impressive” season as the British driver seeks to clinch the F1 Academy title in Qatar.
Pulling, a full-time member of the Alpine Academy since 2023, has excelled during her second campaign in the all-female F1 Academy series.
The British driver has won seven out of 10 races so far, finishing on the podium in the other three, to stake her claim as champion.
In Qatar, the Alpine prospect needs just 18 points across the weekend to secure the top prize.
Motorsport Week asked Ocon ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix what he thought of his Alpine peer’s stellar campaign.
“Yeah, super impressed about Abbi’s season,” the Frenchman replied.
“You know, especially how she’s improved over the time she’s been driving in single-seaters. She’s really been working super well.
“You know, she’s one of those drivers that trains super hard, stays with the team. She’s really involved into listening to us in Formula 1.
“We get feedback as well from [the F1 Academy drivers], when they drive before us at times. And it’s always very valid, the information we get.
“I mean, she’s been super impressive in what she’s done. And I hope that she can, you know, wrap up the title this year.”
‘It’s been great to see Pulling’s success,’ says Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes
Being a part of the Alpine ecosystem brings Pulling into working contact with recently appointed Team Principal Oliver Oakes.
Oakes is weel versed in the junior single-seater ladder having founded Hitech, making him the perfect candidate to assess Pulling’s progress.
“Before I took this role, I’d seen [Pulling] in the British racing scene,” Oakes said.
“And obviously then with F1 Academy supporting a few weekends this far in F1, it’s been great to see her success.
“I think she’s definitely on the right path to keep progressing through the ladder. It was one of the first questions in an Enstone debrief, actually, is what are the plans for her for the future?
“She’s pretty close to wrapping that [F1 Academy title] up.
“So I think in due course, you’ll see what she’s going to be racing in. But it’s definitely exciting to see her with the success she’s having there.”
If and when Pulling secures the F1 Academy title, the prize is a fully funded campaign in the British GB3 series in 2025, a popular stepping stone for drivers seeking to enter the FIA Formula 3 World Championship.
READ MORE – Abbi Pulling Exclusive: F1 Academy champion in waiting
