Quick Read
- Alisha Palmowski secured her first F1 Academy pole position with a dominant 2:04.182 lap in Shanghai.
- Alba Larsen took second place to earn her first career front-row start in the series.
- Nina Gademan will start from pole for Saturday’s opening race due to the championship’s reverse-grid rules.
SHANGHAI (Azat TV) – Alisha Palmowski has officially signaled her title intentions for the 2026 F1 Academy season, securing a dominant maiden pole position at the Shanghai International Circuit on Friday. The Red Bull-supported driver topped the qualifying timesheets with a lap of 2:04.182, finishing more than four tenths of a second clear of her nearest rival.
Palmowski Dominates Qualifying in Shanghai
Palmowski maintained the momentum she established during the morning’s free practice session, where she also set the benchmark pace. Despite a brief red flag interruption caused by Haas driver Kaylee Countryman, who stalled on the back straight, Palmowski remained composed. As the session resumed, she improved her previous provisional pole time to solidify her position at the front of the grid for the upcoming weekend.
Ferrari’s Alba Larsen followed in second place, marking her first career front-row start in the series. Emma Felbermayr rounded out the top three, continuing her strong form as a sophomore driver. Mercedes’ Payton Westcott, who finished fourth, secured the distinction of being the highest-placed rookie in the qualifying session.
Tactical Grid Setup for Race 1
While the qualifying order dictates the grid for the main event, the series’ reverse-grid format has set the stage for a strategic opening race. Alpine driver Nina Gademan, who qualified eighth, will start from pole position for Saturday’s opening contest, a position she previously utilized successfully during the 2025 campaign.
The session also saw impressive performances from the newer faces on the grid. Rookie Natalia Granada, coached by Iron Dames driver Michelle Gatting, secured seventh place in her first-ever single-seater qualifying session. The 18-car field is now prepared for the season-opening race, which is scheduled to commence at 13:45 local time on Saturday.
The Stakes for the 2026 Season
The Shanghai weekend marks the beginning of the fourth season of F1 Academy, a championship that has become a critical proving ground for female talent in motorsport. With seven rounds scheduled across the globe, culminating in a finale in Las Vegas this November, early consistency in qualifying is viewed by teams as a vital component in the championship fight. According to reports from Formula 1 and F1 Academy, the technical nature of the Shanghai circuit, known for its high-speed straights and demanding corner sequences, serves as a high-pressure environment for drivers to demonstrate their adaptation to new setup requirements.
The decisive four-tenth gap established by Palmowski indicates a significant leap in performance consistency compared to her previous campaign, suggesting that the Red Bull-backed driver has successfully translated her off-season preparation into a tangible competitive advantage that the field will struggle to match in the opening races.