F1 Academy driver disagrees with Verstappen: 'I wonder if he knows'

F1 Academy driver Abbi Pulling disagrees with Max Verstappen, who recently criticised the female racing class. The Dutchman applauds women in motorsport, but fears the class does not offer them the opportunities they need to progress to higher racing classes.

Verstappen doubts approach to F1 Academy

At the Grand Prix weekend in Japan, Verstappen questioned the approach to the female racing class. "It is good that Formula 1 is now paying extra attention to women in motorsport with F1 Academy, although I have question marks about how they approach it. The cars they drive are far too slow," he explained in conversation with De Limburger.

"If you ever want to get them into Formula 1, it really has to go to a higher level. It's nice that girls are now sponsored by Formula 1 teams, but what are we actually helping them with? There is no next step for them now. The gap to a Formula 4 car, for example, is already too big," he added.

F1 Academy driver Abbi Pulling disagrees with Verstappen

Pulling, who is currently leading the F1 Academy standings, disagrees with Verstappen's comments. "I like Max. I don't know if he knows that the winner last year went to Formula Regional and is racing with Prema, who won the championship last year," she told Mirror Sport.

"I don't know if he knows that's an opportunity that we get, the championship winner. I disagree on the point that there's no next step - I'd like to think that if I was to win the championship this year, or anyone else, that they would get the same prize, if not more than what happened last year with Marta Garcia," the 21-year-old British driver continued.

Marta Garcia clinched the 2023 F1 Academy championship and this year will compete in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), where she will drive alongside Doriane Pin for the Iron Ladies team. Mercedes announced the participation of Pin, who is currently third in the F1 Academy championship, on Thursday.