EMMA FELBERMAYR Takes Shanghai Feature Win, PALMOWSKI Second in F1 Academy

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March 15, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

  • EMMA FELBERMAYR delivered Audi’s maiden F1 Academy victory at Shanghai, holding off ALISHA PALMOWSKI in a tense final lap to claim the early championship lead after previously taking a podium in the reverse-grid race.
  • NINA GADEMAN dominated the Saturday reverse-grid race lights-to-flag for her second career win, resisting relentless pressure from rookie NATALIA GRANADA who impressed in her maiden single-seater start despite later contact damage.
  • ALISHA PALMOWSKI recovered from eighth to fifth Saturday after qualifying half-second clear of rivals, then challenged FELBERMAYR throughout Sunday’s feature race, adding fastest lap to secure crucial championship points with P2.
  • ALBA LARSEN’s weekend swung from Race 1 contact damage to leading Sunday’s feature before a critical restart error dropped Ferrari’s new signing outside the points, eventually salvaging eighth after strong early pace.
  • PAYTON WESTCOTT claimed her first podium in her full-time debut, while ELLA LLOYD and RAFAELA FERREIRA delivered consistent top-six finishes across both races at the season-opening Shanghai weekend.

UPCOMING:

  • F1 Academy Round 2 – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada – May 23-24, 2026

LINKS TO RACER'S PROFILE PAGES:

GRRL! summary based upon reporting by RACERS originally appearing on www.racers-behindthehelmet.com