Alisha Palmowski strengthened her grip on the 2026 F1 Academy Drivers’ Championship with a fifth victory of the season in the Texas Grand Prix Opening Race, holding off late pressure and navigating two Safety Car interruptions at the Circuit of The Americas.
The Red Bull Racing-backed driver overcame an early challenge from Payton Westcott before facing a determined pursuit from Alba Larsen. Nina Gademan ultimately secured second place after a tense final-lap battle, with Larsen completing the podium in third.
Palmowski reclaims the lead after dramatic start
Starting from pole position, Palmowski initially lost the lead to Westcott, who made a strong getaway to sweep ahead into Turn 1. However, the Mercedes-backed driver struggled on corner exit, allowing Palmowski to fight back and reclaim the lead through Turns 7 and 8.
Westcott’s difficult opening continued when she ran wide at Turn 9, dropping down the order. Further back, contact involving Megan Bruce, Rafaela Ferreira and Rachel Robertson brought out the first Safety Car, with Robertson forced to retire.
The interruption erased Palmowski’s early advantage and brought Gademan and Larsen back into contention when racing resumed on Lap 4.
Larsen turns up the pressure on Palmowski
Palmowski held firm at the restart, but the battle behind quickly intensified. Larsen launched an attack on Gademan to move into second, although the overtake attracted the stewards’ attention after she left the track and gained an advantage.
With the investigation ongoing, Larsen turned her attention towards the race leader. The Ferrari-backed driver steadily closed the gap, putting Palmowski under increasing pressure as the race entered its closing stages.
Further back, Emma Felbermayr continued her recovery drive from 11th on the grid, working her way up to fifth. Lisa Billard held fourth for Gatorade-operated ART Grand Prix, delivering a strong performance to remain ahead of the championship contender.
Late Safety Car sets up final-lap showdown
Just as the fight for victory began to heat up, a second Safety Car was deployed following contact between Ella Lloyd and Ava Dobson on Lap 10. Dobson was forced to retire, while Lloyd managed to continue.
The interruption set up a dramatic final lap, with Larsen instructed to return second place to Gademan following her earlier off-track overtake. Once racing resumed, Palmowski made a clean getaway while her rivals continued their fight for the remaining podium positions.
Gademan defended effectively against Larsen to secure second, leaving Palmowski to cross the line and claim her fifth victory of the season. The result marked a third consecutive double podium for MP Motorsport, with Larsen joining her teammate on the rostrum.
What’s next for F1 Academy this weekend?
Palmowski’s latest win extends her championship advantage over Felbermayr to 63 points, putting the Briton in a commanding position heading into the remainder of the Texas Grand Prix weekend.
Following the Opening Race, Ella Lloyd received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with Ava Dobson, dropping her from 14th to 16th in the final classification. Rachel Robertson was handed a three-place grid penalty for her collision with Rafaela Ferreira, meaning she will start the Reverse Grid Race from 13th rather than 10th.
The F1 Academy field returns to action for the Reverse Grid Race at the Circuit of The Americas, where Palmowski has her first opportunity to secure the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with a race to spare.
