Photos with symbolic character. Two women in front of and in a Formula 1 car – in Saudi Arabia. The topic of women at the wheel was a much-discussed long-running issue in the country on the Persian Gulf. Because women have only been officially allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia since June 2018. Four years later, two women race through Riyadh in an F1 racer for the first time.
This was made possible by the Alpine racing team, which also includes Fernando Alonso. In cooperation with the tourism authority, the French team had Saudi Arabian pilot Aseel Al Hamad, who is also represented on the FIA Commission for Women in Motorsport, and W-Series driver Abbi Pulling get into an old car and drive through the driving capital.
The exit took place in the E20 from 2012. Back then, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean drove the E20 around the F1 world circuits for Alpine’s predecessor team, Lotus.
Sign of a new generation
“It was beautiful to ride with Alpine and very special to do so in my home country of Saudi Arabia and hometown of Riyadh,” said Aseel Al Hamad. “I hope it inspires more generations to fall in love with Formula 1 and for more women to consider a career in motorsport.”
For Abbi Pulling, the ride was an early birthday present. One day before her 19th birthday, the Brit, who is part of Alpine’s youth program, sat in a Formula 1 car for the first time. “It was my first experience in a Formula 1 racer and it was everything I imagined and more,” she enthused. “I started racing when I was eight years old, always with the goal of reaching Formula 1 and I’m very happy that I’ve come a little step closer to that goal.”