Pulling Calls Formula E Ruthless

Abbi Pulling has offered a candid assessment of her first taste of Formula E machinery in competitive conditions, describing the championship as “cut-throat” despite feeling immediately at ease behind the wheel. The 22-year-old Briton, crowned F1 Academy champion in 2024, made her rookie free practice appearance with Nissan during the Miami E-Prix weekend and emerged with a clearer understanding of just how unforgiving the all-electric series can be.

Pulling is preparing for her second season in the GB3 Championship with Rodin Motorsport, while simultaneously fulfilling her duties as Nissan’s rookie and simulator driver in Formula E. That dual role has allowed her to bridge two very different worlds of junior and professional single-seater racing, and the contrast, she says, is stark.

Although the Formula E car itself did not present an overwhelming learning curve, the structure and intensity of the championship stood out immediately. Extensive simulator preparation with Nissan, including sessions on Dynisma’s advanced simulator, meant Pulling climbed into the GEN3 Evo car with a solid baseline understanding. As a result, she felt comfortable almost instantly, describing the sensation as feeling “right at home”.

However, comfort did not equate to complacency. Pulling was quick to point out that Formula E weekends leave little room for recovery. With limited practice time, changing track conditions and a qualifying format built around one-lap Duels, opportunities are scarce and mistakes are heavily punished. Even during rookie practice, where championship points are not at stake, she sensed the underlying pressure that defines the series.

The Miami rookie session was run predominantly in 300kW, the lower power mode, allowing Pulling to focus on technique, energy management and race-style running rather than outright performance. In those conditions, she found herself broadly comparable to her reference points within Nissan, as well as to an impressive roster of fellow rookies. Sharing the track with drivers such as Formula 2 champion Théo Pourchaire, former FIA Formula 3 title winner Dennis Hauger and highly rated Gabriele Minì provided valuable context for her performance.

While Pulling estimated a deficit of around four to five tenths of a second in qualifying trim, she emphasised that the primary objective was learning. Race runs and feedback were prioritised, and although a minor mistake led to tyre damage and compromised her limited opportunity for a representative qualifying simulation, she remained philosophical.

She acknowledged that the final timesheets did not fully reflect the positives of the session, but stressed that those within the team had access to the complete picture. For Pulling, the experience reinforced how narrow the margins are in Formula E and how quickly circumstances can turn — lessons she believes will serve her well both in GB3 and in her ongoing development with Nissan.

Abbi Pulling: Miami rookie session overview

For Pulling, Miami was less about lap times and more about exposure to Formula E’s relentless intensity. The verdict is clear: the cars may feel familiar, but the championship itself is an altogether tougher proposition.