With wildcard driver Chiara Bättig and Championship leader Alisha Palmowski starting on the front row of the Feature Race it was all to play for as the lights went out. Bättig didn’t have the best start, as the experienced Red Bull driver had a solid launch and took the race lead after going for the inside line at the first corner.
Palmowski showed consistent pace throughout, though she was never far from the threat of Bättig, who remained within one second behind. Palmowski secured a heartwarming win at her home race, further strengthening her position as championship leader.
“Chiara is a great little driver.”
Palmowski after winning the British Grand Prix.
An action-packed opening lap in the Feature Race
A strong opening lap saw Ella Lloyd climb from fifth to third with a confident getaway. Behind her, Rachel Roberson took a look down the inside into the opening corners, but Lloyd held firm to keep her newly gained position.
Emma Felbermayr made one of the best starts of the field, gaining three places to move into fourth, while Ava Dobson endured a difficult launch, slipping back after starting from fourth.
A poor getaway from Lisa Billiard proved costly for the all-important podium fight, with the slow start allowing Robertson to capitalise immediately and sweep past around the outside before the end of the opening sector.
Early Safety Car in the Feature Race after lap two collision
Lap two brought the first major incident of the race, as Rafaela Ferreira and Ella Stevens collided on the straight, prompting the deployment of the Safety Car. The pair had been engaged in a tense battle over track position, with both drivers trying to establish themselves before the braking zone.
As Stevens moved to the side in an effort to avoid being squeezed, contact was made when Ferreira’s car struck the side of hers. Stevens was instantly out of the race with damage, while Ferreira was able to limp back to the pits. The team attempted to fix the Racing Bulls car, but it ultimately resulted in a DNF.
The incident brought out the Safety Car, which put pressure on the rest of the grid following the race start. Once the track was cleared, Palmowski waited until the last moment before pulling away. The slow restart saw Megan Bruce go into the back of Alba Larsen, which caused Bruce to be slower for the remainder of the race. Despite the setback, Bruce was able to finish ninth, the same position she qualified in.
Feature Race Safety Car restart shakes up the order
The battle for the final podium place came alive immediately after the Safety Car restart, with Felbermayr piling the pressure onto Lloyd for third. Her first attempt to find a way through was not enough, as Lloyd defended well to hold position. However, Felbermayr refused to back off and continued to apply relentless pressure over the following corners.
The persistence paid off when she finally completed the move for third, just as Nina Gademan joined the fight, closing rapidly on the pair. With Lloyd forced wide in the heat of the battle, she lost vital momentum and dropped two places in quick succession, promoting both Felbermayr and Gademan ahead as the fight for the podium took another dramatic turn.
Following the Safety Car restart, Esmee Kosterman and Payton Wescott were placed under investigation by the stewards for an alleged Safety Car infringement. After reviewing the incident, the stewards handed Kosterman a five-second time penalty, leaving the LEGO driver finishing the race in P15.
Feature Race ends with eyes on Zandvoort
Palmowski’s victory sees the Red Bull Racing driver extend her advantage at the top of the F1 Academy Drivers’ Championship, strengthening her title challenge as the season heads into its second half. With just a handful of rounds remaining, every point will prove crucial in the battle for the championship.
The series now heads to the Netherlands for Round 5 at Circuit Zandvoort, where the drivers will return to action from 21-23 August for another pivotal weekend in the 2026 season.
