Having started from pole for all three races in Yas Marina, Pulling knew what to do at the race start as she got off the line well to maintain first place. Fellow front-row starter Chloe Chambers also got off the line well but was usurped by the lightning quick Doriane Pin, with the Mercedes driver moving into second.
However, as the the pair made their way into Turn 1 they collided and were both sent spinning off and down the order.
As a result of that collision, Hamda Al Qubaisi was subsequently elevated two places into second with Ferrai’s Maya Weug going from sixth to third in just a matter of corners. By the second lap, Weug was on the back of Al Qubaisi and placed her Ferrari up the inside at Turn 6 to go ahead. From there, she hunted down Pulling, and would get a chance for the lead on Lap 5.
F1 ACADEMY: Pulling claims record-breaking eighth win in Yas Marina after Lap 1 drama for Chambers
Weug once again tried a move down the inside at Turn 6, but this time Pulling would bail and found herself on the runoff, with the Alpine-backed driver needing to give the position back to Weug, or risk a penalty for gaining an unfair advantage.
After securing the lead on Lap 6, Weug would drive off into the distance with Pulling now fending off a determined Al Qubaisi for second place.
Behind them Lia Block was also on a charge, having started in eighth. Although needing to serve a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, the Williams junior made moves on McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante for fifth before progressing to fourth after a mistake from Martí.