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ALISHA PALMOWSKI crowned 2026 F1 Academy champion in Austin

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October 26, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

  • ALISHA PALMOWSKI, 20, clinched the 2026 F1 Academy title in Austin finishing second in the reverse-grid race, becoming the youngest-ever series champion and the fourth in F1 Academy history.
  • ALBA LARSEN gave Ferrari a fairytale result, taking her maiden F1 Academy race victory, while LISA BILLARD secured her first podium for Gatorade with a third-place finish.
  • Championship rival EMMA FELBERMAYR briefly swept around PALMOWSKI on the opening lap but ran deep off-track, handing the momentum back to the Red Bull driver as she picked through the pack.
  • Chaos struck early as RAFAELA FERREIRA spun JADE JACQUET out of the race; wild-card ALEXIA DANIELSSON had nowhere to go and rode over Jacquet’s car — both drivers walked away unhurt.
  • PALMOWSKI starts Sunday’s feature race from pole; FELBERMAYR and Alpine’s NINA GADEMAN fight on for second in the standings before the season finale in Las Vegas.

UPCOMING:

  • F1 Academy feature race, Circuit of the Americas, Austin — Sunday, October 25, 2026 (date not stated, found Nov 2, 2026)
  • F1 Academy 2026 season finale, Las Vegas (date not stated, found Nov 2, 2026)

LINKS TO RACER'S PROFILE PAGES:

RAFAELA FERREIRA PAYTON WESTCOTT JADE JACQUET LISA BILLARD EMMA FELBERMAYR NINA GÅDEMAN ALBA LARSEN ALISHA PALMOWSKI ALEXIA DANIELSSON

all-female f1 academy, campos racing, circuit of the americas, oracle red bull racing

GRRL! summary based upon reporting by Madeline Coleman originally appearing on nytimes.com