Aseel Al Hamad and Abbi Pulling completed a test run with Alpine in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first female drivers to drive a F1 car in the country.
Dubbed by Alpine as ‘pushing the boundaries’, the team in a partnership with Saudi Tourism Authority, undertook a test run with Al Hamad and Pulling on the streets of capital city Riyadh, where the duo became the first female racers to drive a F1 car in the country.
This is the second time that Al Hamad has driven a Renault-powered E20 F1 car after her maiden run in Paul Ricard in 2018. For Alpine affiliate Pulling, this was a first opportunity in a F1 car as she prepares for her racing season in the W Series.
The pair went through Diriyah’s Wadi Hanifah, which is overlooked by the UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif. It is said to be the original home of the Al Saud Royal family, birthplace of the Kingdom and origin of the country’s First Saudi State.
The Renault E20 also went through the new King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) road. Amid the demo news, Alpine is due to run the ‘Visit Saudi’ logos on its BWT-liveried A522 cars during this weekend’s Saudi Arabian GP.
Aseel Al Hamad: “It was beautiful to drive with BWT Alpine F1 Team once again, and even more special to do this in my country of Saudi Arabia and my home city of Riyadh,” said Al Hamad. “I hope this inspires more generations to fall in love with Formula 1 and for more women to consider motorsport as a future career.
“I was super happy to meet Abbi, a lovely girl with lots of ambition, and an amazing passion for racing. She shows that with enough drive, girls can become professional racing drivers. It is important that we showcase examples to demonstrate to the younger generation that it can be them in the future.
“It doesn’t matter your gender; you need to show your talent. I will be cheering for them and opening the doors and hopefully we will see them on podiums in the near future.” Meanwhile, Pulling was super excited for her first-ever F1 demo run.
“I got my first experience of an F1 car last weekend and it was everything I was expecting, and more,” said Pulling. “I started racing when I was just eight years old, always with the goal of reaching Formula 1, and I am so pleased to have got that little bit closer. It is very important for the industry to encourage and support young, female talents to achieve their ambitions.
“Programmes like the Alpine Academy coupled with demonstration runs with female racers show you have the opportunity and structure to do this. It was a pleasure to meet Aseel and to hear about all her initiatives to support young racers. It’s super encouraging for myself and the next generation.”
At the same time, Laurent Rossi, stated: “The statement of having two women driving an F1 car through the capital of Saudi Arabia, past treasured historic monuments and into the heart of the city, shows that anyone with enough drive can follow their dreams in motorsport. Aseel shows that women of all backgrounds are welcome, while Abbi demonstrates motorsport is a genuine career path for women. We hope that this action will inspire girls from the younger generation that anything is possible.”
And, Fahd Hamidaddin, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Tourism Authority, added: “Saudi is a destination that is welcoming to everyone and inclusive of all. Tourism and sport are intimately connected and both offer opportunities for women to build career paths that are fulfilling and rewarding.
“As a father of two daughters myself, it is a pleasure to join with Alpine on this landmark initiative and inspire women from all walks of life to follow their dreams wherever they may lead. And, more importantly, to support them in making their dreams reality.”
Here’s photos and video:
Watch as @aseel_alhamad and @AbbiPulling become first-ever women to drive F1 cars in Saudi Arabia.#DriveYourOwnDestiny #SaudiArabianGP @VisitSaudiNow pic.twitter.com/hL041br1kM
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) March 24, 2022
Here’s Esteban Ocon on tangle with Mick Schumacher