F1 Academy’s return to Zandvoort has already delivered plenty of drama, with Nina Gademan topping a disrupted F1 Academy practice race as rain, traffic and two red flags made for a challenging start to the weekend. With only one practice session on the schedule, every minute was crucial, but the changing conditions gave the drivers little chance to settle into a rhythm.
Gademan eventually emerged at the top of the timing sheets ahead of Racing Bulls driver Rafaela Ferreira and Ferrari driver Alba Larsen. Championship leader Alisha Palmowski finished P10 after a quieter start to the session, leaving the Red Bull driver with work to do before qualifying.
Palmowski arrives at Zandvoort as championship leader
The F1 Academy grid arrives in the Netherlands following an action-packed weekend at Silverstone, where Palmowski strengthened her championship lead with victory in the Feature Race. Starting alongside Wild Card driver Chiara Bättig on the front row, Palmowski was able to secure a memorable home victory.
Emma Felbermayr had already taken the Reverse Grid Race win, extending her record of scoring points in every race of the 2026 season. With the championship now heading into its second half, Palmowski remains at the top, while Felbermayr and Gademan will be looking to close the gap.
A familiar challenge for the drivers
Zandvoort gives drivers very little room for error, with grass, barriers and limited run-off surrounding much of the circuit. Turn 3 is another major challenge, with its steep banking allowing drivers to carry huge amounts of speed while making it difficult to find the perfect line.
The expected rain could make the circuit even more difficult this weekend, with conditions potentially changing from one session to the next. That made the single practice session particularly important as teams looked to gather as much information as possible.
Gademan returns to her home circuit
Gademan knows exactly what it takes to win at Zandvoort after producing one of the most memorable moments of last year’s F1 Academy season. The Dutch driver claimed her maiden victory in Race 1 at her home circuit on her birthday, before Maya Weug followed up with another Dutch victory in Race 2.
Now sitting third in the championship, Gademan will be hoping to repeat that success in front of her home fans. Her pace in practice suggests she could once again be a serious threat this weekend
Rain and traffic disrupt the opening session
The session began with drivers battling traffic as they searched for clear laps, before the weather added another layer of difficulty. A yellow flag was eventually upgraded to a red flag after Ava Dobson ran wide at Turn 9 and ended up in the wall, bringing the session to a halt.
When racing resumed, only 13 minutes remained and several drivers opted for wet tyres as the rain continued to fall. With conditions changing rapidly, the drivers had very little time to adapt and gather useful mileage before the session was interrupted again.
Gademan finds the pace in changing conditions
Gademan appeared increasingly comfortable as the track became wetter, climbing up the timing sheets before eventually taking the fastest time. Ferreira finished second, with Larsen completing the top three as the trio adapted best to the difficult conditions.
For Gademan, topping the only practice session of the weekend is an ideal start to her home race, particularly with no further opportunity to test the car before qualifying.
Another red flag brings practice to a halt
The drivers had little time to settle into the wet conditions before another incident brought out the red flag. Jade Jacquet went off and became beached in the gravel, once again sending the field back into the pits and eating into the limited running time.
Once Jacquet’s car is cleared, the drivers will also have the opportunity to practice their race starts, giving teams one final chance to gather useful information before competitive action gets underway.
Florescu takes on the Wild Card challenge
Zoe Florescu is making her F1 Academy debut this weekend as the latest Wild Card driver, following in the footsteps of Bättig, who made history at Silverstone by becoming the first Wild Card driver to take pole position.
That is a difficult benchmark to follow, but Florescu has already faced challenging conditions in her first session at Zandvoort. With limited running and rain affecting the track, she will need to adapt quickly as she looks to make her own mark on the weekend. She finishes the practice session in P11, just behind the Championship leader.
Qualifying could be anyone’s game
With practice disrupted by rain, traffic and two red flags, there is still plenty of uncertainty heading into qualifying. Gademan will have the confidence of topping the session, while Palmowski will be looking to recover from P10 and return to the sharp end of the grid.
Last year, Gademan gave the home crowd a birthday victory while Weug completed the Dutch double. This year, Gademan is fighting for the championship, Palmowski is protecting her lead and Florescu is taking on the Wild Card challenge, setting up another unpredictable weekend at Zandvoort.
