Surprising the F1 Academy Champion

The world keeps on coming full circle these days, and I absolutely love it. A short story; in 2019 a 16yr old Abbi Pulling messaged me on Instagram to show some of her GCSE art coursework, studying me as her chosen professional artist, and recreating my style. In Miami last year a now 21yr old young lady in Alpine team kit comes bounding up to me in the F1 paddock to say hello, I had no idea who she was, until a few hours later that same grinning face of Abbi is on every big screen around the circuit after putting it on pole in F1 Academy. Then to the top step of the podium with a dominant lights to flag victory, and it was a similar story the following day in the second race too!

Skip forwards to the Academy Season finale in Abu Dhabi and Abbi is celebrating her 9th win from 14 races in her championship celebratory gold helmet, having already sealed the title. Abbi’s manager Alice then contacts me with an idea to surprise Abbi with a painting of her... something that I was absolutely gonna make sure happened!

So this Wednesday just gone, in the build up to the Autosport Awards at Camden Roundhouse where Abbi would be presented with her championship trophy, we concocted a plan with a fake lunch meeting together with her videographer to covertly capture, and present Abbi with her painting. Cue a totally shocked driver, and we almost got tears! Nicely done Alice, this was an absolute pleasure to create this painting, featuring Abbi’s already legendary winning celebration pose. And truly reinforcing, the reason why I do ‘this’.

Congratulations on a fantastic 2024 campaign Abbi, and I’m looking forward to following your progress in GB3 this year! Love your attitude.