F1 Academy 2026: Red Bull's Alisha Palmowski crowned champion in Austin with a round to spare
Briton Alisha Palmowski sealed the 2026 F1 Academy title in Austin, finishing second behind first-time winner Alba Larsen. The season ends in Las Vegas on 19-21 November.
Alisha Palmowski is the 2026 F1 Academy champion. The 20-year-old British driver, backed by Red Bull and racing for Campos Racing, wrapped up the title at the Circuit of The Americas during the United States Grand Prix weekend. She clinched it with second place in Saturday's reverse-grid race, which Ferrari's Alba Larsen won for her first victory in the series.
How the title was won
Palmowski arrived in Austin with a big lead and won Friday's opening race to stretch it further. That left her 63 points clear of Audi-backed Emma Felbermayr going into the reverse-grid race. She started that race eighth.
The race was disrupted early. Polesitter Rafaela Ferreira led away, but contact involving Jade Jacquet brought out a Safety Car, and wildcard Alexia Danielsson later hit Ferreira's stricken car. Larsen took the lead in the chaos and controlled the restart, winning by 2.3 seconds.
Palmowski worked her way forward behind her. She passed Felbermayr and Nina Gademan, gained a place when Natalia Granada was penalised for a start-procedure infringement, and then overtook Lisa Billard for second. That result put her 70 points clear with only 67 left to win, making her F1 Academy's fourth champion and its second from Britain after Abbi Pulling in 2024.
Sky Sports reported her reaction over team radio: "We did it guys! It's incredible."
Sunday: Gademan wins as the champion crashes out
Palmowski started Sunday's Feature Race from pole but could not add a sixth win. Gademan, the Alpine-backed MP Motorsport driver, went around the outside at Turn 1 to take the lead and went on to win for the second time this season. Payton Westcott was second and Granada third.
Palmowski's weekend ended early when she and Larsen collided while running second and third, and both retired. The result still hardly mattered for the title. Gademan's win lifted her past Felbermayr into second place in the championship.
Standings before the Las Vegas finale
| Pos | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alisha Palmowski | 172 |
| 2 | Nina Gademan | 119 |
| 3 | Emma Felbermayr | 113 |
| 4 | Alba Larsen | 76 |
| 5 | Payton Westcott | 76 |
| 6 | Natalia Granada | 58 |
In the teams' championship, Campos Racing (251) lead MP Motorsport (207), Rodin Motorsport (171) and PREMA Racing (169).
Palmowski has five wins from 12 races this season. She came to F1 Academy after finishing runner-up in the 2024 GB4 Championship.
What is left to race
Two races remain, at the season finale in Las Vegas on 19-21 November alongside the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The fight for second is close, with Gademan six points ahead of Felbermayr. Larsen and Westcott are level on 76 for fourth.
Key takeaways
- Alisha Palmowski (Campos Racing, Red Bull) clinched the 2026 F1 Academy title in Austin.
- Alba Larsen won the reverse-grid race for her first F1 Academy victory.
- Nina Gademan won Sunday's Feature Race and moved up to second overall.
- The final two races are in Las Vegas on 19-21 November.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 F1 Academy title? Alisha Palmowski of Britain, driving for Campos Racing with Red Bull backing. She clinched it in Austin with two races to spare.
How many races did Palmowski win in 2026? Five from the first 12 races of the season.
Where is the last F1 Academy round? Las Vegas, on 19-21 November 2026, on the same weekend as the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Sources: Sky Sports, Formula1.com, F1 Academy, Pit Debrief