First F1 Academy podium for Pulling

Abbi Pulling picked up her first podium in the F1 Academy in Valencia last weekend after a difficult start to the season.
In the opener at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, Pulling grabbed two pole positions but her and her Rodin Carlin teammates were all disqualified after what officials described as a ‘unintentional technical infringement’ involving parts of the sidepods.
From the back she finished fourth twice and eighth.
In Valencia last weekend after she struggled for pace and failed to complete race one, she suffered damage avoiding a crash before finishing 12th in race two.
But she impressed in race three with a third place finish.
She told the FA Academy website: “It was a little bittersweet because it’s been a long time waiting.
“I think we’ve had the pace since qualifying at Red Bull but didn’t have the race pace that I was expecting.
“It’s something me and the team have got to go back and reflect on and see why we struggle so much in the hot conditions.
“It’s nice to get some points on the board after a difficult season so far.
“I’ve always got the pace, I just need to evaluate my driving as well as the car when it gets hotter. We’re good in the cold conditions but something’s not there when it’s hot but the team’s doing a great job of working really hard to put that right.
“I’ve a lot more experience of going around Barcelona (the next meet) and when I did the pre-season test I was quickest there so I’m confident and it’s about figuring out what we need to do in the races.”