F1 Academy: Bühler and García Lead Monza Practice Sessions

Written by Juan Arroyo

Credit: Eric Alonso - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

Rodin Carlin's Abbi Pulling displayed strong pace in Friday's practice sessions as the Brit, yet to secure a pole position this season, became the early pace setter in FP1.

Following a brief red flag after MP Motorsport's Al Qubaisi beached their car in the gravel, the top eight were split by one second. It was Bühler who topped the first session with a time of 1:54.628, just 0.055s ahead of Pulling. PREMA driver and current championship leader García followed in third.

Pulling once again set the pace early on in FP2, with the Rodin Carlin driver's final time of 1:53.402 being enough for second place behind García, who led the field with a time of 1:53.371.

Pulling's teammate Megan Gilkes took third as the chequered flag fell on the session, half a second off García's time. Bühler followed in fourth, and Jessica Edgar's fifth-place finish marked three Rodin Carlin cars inside the top 5.

Gilkes said after the Friday sessions: “It’s been good today; we’ve definitely made some big steps forward throughout the day and since Zandvoort. I am really happy with where the car is at the moment and the team at Rodin Carlin are doing a great job. I’m looking forward to doing the same again and maybe even two places better in qualifying tomorrow.”