Netflix’s F1 Academy and Lincolnshire’s Abbi Pulling inspire a generation
Written by Vicky Pearson
When I was a child growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, my dream careers were as bold as they come: I wanted to be an astronaut, a jet fighter pilot, or a Formula One racing car driver.
Big dreams, right? But back then, for girls like me, they might as well have been science fiction. These weren’t just difficult careers to reach – they were careers the world barely imagined women in at all. There were no role models on TV or in the news showing us that women could compete at the same level, in the same spaces, with the same courage and skill. We were told, in countless subtle ways, to aim a little lower. To dream a little smaller.
That’s why Netflix’s new series F1 Academy feels like such a powerful moment. It isn’t just a motorsport show, it’s a platform for changing what’s possible in the minds of young girls who dare to dream.
This groundbreaking series showcases the all-female Formula racing series launched to develop and promote female talent in motorsport, one of the most male-dominated sports in the world. It’s raw, fast, emotional and deeply human. Through the show, viewers don’t just watch races; they get a glimpse into the grit, the grind, the heartbreak, and the breathtaking triumphs behind each young woman chasing the dream.
One driver in particular has truly stood out – not just to global audiences, but she really struck a chord with me personally.
Abbi Pulling, from Lincolnshire, right here where I live, where we run our business from! She didn’t just race, she conquered. From relatively humble beginnings, she tore through the competition and took the season title, proving that talent, hard work, and determination can punch through barriers of history, gender, and expectation. Her journey, captured in full throttle on Netflix, is one of resilience, focus, and raw ambition.
Watching her rise has been emotional, especially for those of us who remember what it felt like to dream these dreams in silence. Abbi Pulling is the role model I never had growing up. She’s showing today’s girls that racing isn’t just for the boys, and that the podium is absolutely within reach.
But more than that, F1 Academy shines because it doesn’t shy away from the emotional reality behind the speed. The series features heartbreaking setbacks, personal sacrifices, and immense pressure, but also the sheer joy of victory and the sisterhood forming on and off the track. These young women aren’t just racing; they’re rewriting the script for what’s possible.
Adding even more impact to the series is the powerhouse behind its production. F1 Academy is produced by none other than Reece Witherspoon and her brilliant company, Hello Sunshine Productions – a trailblazing media company built to spotlight real women’s stories. Hello Sunshine has become known for creating content that centres women not just as characters, but as full, complex, powerful human beings. One of their earlier hits, the film Wild, starring Witherspoon and based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, remains one of my personal favourites, a raw and moving portrait of grief, strength, and transformation. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.
Abbi Pulling
Whether you’re a motorsport fan or not, F1 Academy is well worth your time. It’s a show about bravery, breaking glass ceilings, and challenging everything we were taught to believe about who belongs in the driver’s seat.
And if you’re from Lincolnshire, cheer a little louder. Abbi Pulling has put our county on the global map, and she’s racing not just for trophies, but for every young girl who’s ever dared to dream big.
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