The 2026 F1 Academy reached a climax at the Circuit of the Americas, where two back-to-back events determined both a race winner and the overall drivers’ champion. Red Bull Racing’s Alisha Palmowski entered the weekend with a sizable lead in the standings, but a series of on-track incidents in Austin kept the pressure high until the final lap of the Reverse Grid race.
Opening Race at the Circuit of the Americas
From pole position, Palmowski was immediately challenged by Mercedes rookie Payton Westcott, who launched ahead into Turn 1. Westcott’s momentum stalled on the exit of Sector 1, allowing the Red Bull driver to re-join side-by-side and overtake at Turn 9. A first-lap collision involving Rachel Robertson, Rafaela Ferreira and Megan Bruce summoned the first Safety Car, erasing any early gap Palmowski had built. When racing resumed, Alba Larsen in the Ferrari quickly moved past teammate Nina Gademan to sit second, but a daring off-track maneuver forced the stewards to order her to give the position back.
Despite the setbacks, Palmowski kept her composure through a second Safety Car period triggered on the final lap by contact between Ella Lloyd and Ava Dobson. The field bunched for a sprint finish, and Palmowski’s clean restart secured her fifth seasonal victory, extending her championship lead to 63 points. Behind her, Gademan reclaimed second place, Larsen settled for third, and Lisa Billard achieved a career-best fourth. Emma Felbermayr, the closest challenger, finished fifth, while Payton Westcott, after an early mistake, dropped to seventh.
Reverse Grid showdown and championship decision
The Reverse Grid race turned the weekend into a true test of recovery skill. Starting eighth, Palmowski needed to navigate traffic quickly, while Ferrari’s Alba Larsen started from pole after the qualifying shuffle. An early collision between Palmowski and Williams rookie Jade Jacquet brought out a second Safety Car, during which Wild Card Alexia Danielsson clipped the damaged Williams car. The incident handed Larsen the lead, and she managed the rest of the race from the front, setting a consistent pace.
Meanwhile, Palmowski launched a methodical climb through the field, overtaking rivals such as Nina Gademan and, after a penalty to Natalia Granada for a starting-procedure breach, inheriting third place. A decisive pass on Lisa Billard moved her into second, putting her in a position to clinch the title regardless of the final lap. Larsen crossed the line 2.3 seconds ahead, celebrating her first F1 Academy victory, while Palmowski’s second-place finish sealed the championship with three races still to run.
Key performances and points impact
The weekend highlighted the depth of talent in the academy. Palmowski’s ability to recover from an eighth-place start underscored why she entered the season as the clear favorite. Larsen’s pole-to-win effort marked a milestone for the Ferrari-backed driver, confirming her status as a rising star after three consecutive podiums. Consistent point-scorers such as Emma Felbermayr and Lisa Billard also demonstrated the competitive midfield, with Billard notching her inaugural podium finish.
With the drivers’ title secured, the series now looks ahead to the Feature Race scheduled for Sunday at noon local time. Palmowski will start from pole, offering her the chance to add a sixth win to her 2026 tally, while other contenders will aim to narrow the gap before the final three rounds of the championship.
