Alpine

Alpine suggest F1 plan for Sophia Floersch and Abbi Pulling

Sam Hall Wednesday 8 March 2023 18:01

Alpine suggest F1 plan for Sophia Floersch and Abbi Pulling

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has revealed how academy drivers Sophia Floersch and Abbi Pulling could gain F1 experience this year.

Pulling extended her relationship with a full academy position with Alpine for the current season after previously being listed as an 'affiliate driver' while Floersch joined the programme as she returned to F3.

Given F1's focus on uncovering a female talent that could compete in the championship, Szafnauer has already faced questions on if and when the two women will be granted a chance to sample top-tier machinery.

Speaking to Top Gear, he said: “The hope is that, yes, the ladies, the young girls that we’re supporting one day will get into a Formula 1 car and become F1 drivers. That is the hope.

“Will we give them a test? We do have a demo team which runs a two-year-old car, and we’ve put that to good use."

Demos a gauge of ability

Pulling was able to take advantage of this last year when she drove the 2012 Lotus E20 - a car from the Enstone-based team's history - in Saudi Arabia.

"We’ve run some of the current Formula 1 drivers in the demo car alongside our drivers, so it’s a good way to be able to compare driver ability," added Szafnauer.

“So I wouldn’t be surprised in the future - although we don’t have a plan yet - that we do that.”

READ MORE: March's key F1 diary dates

Latest News

GPFans Recap

Ricciardo tipped for NEW F1 role as star makes COMEBACK at Las Vegas Grand Prix - GPFans Recap

1 hour ago

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: The music artists set to star at STUNNING event

2 hours ago

Latest F1 News

Mercedes star SHOCKED by FIA reaction after damning drivers' statement

3 hours ago

Latest F1 News

Verstappen reveals F1 RETIREMENT clue ahead of Las Vegas GP

Yesterday 20:47

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton drops Mercedes BOMBSHELL ahead of Las Vegas GP

Yesterday 20:02

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 star reveals DEPORTATION threat at Las Vegas Grand Prix

Yesterday 19:18

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2024

GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun

George Russell

GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP HUNGARY 19 - 21 Jul

Oscar Piastri

GP BELGIUM 26 - 28 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP NETHERLANDS 23 - 25 Aug

Lando Norris

GP ITALY 30 Aug - 1 Sep

Charles Leclerc

GP AZERBAIJAN 13 - 15 Sep

Oscar Piastri

GP SINGAPORE 20 - 22 Sep

Lando Norris

GP USA 18 - 20 Oct

Charles Leclerc

GP MEXICO 25 - 27 Oct

GP QATAR 29 Nov - 1 Dec

GP ABU DHABI 6 - 8 Dec

Complete kalender 2024

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY