Alisha Palmowski wins 2026 F1 Academy championship in Austin

Alisha Palmowski has secured the 2026 F1 Academy title at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, with three races remaining in the season. The Red Bull-backed driver clinched the championship during the weekend's reverse-grid race, where she climbed from eighth on the grid to finish second.

Palmowski's championship run was bolstered by her victory in the weekend's opening race, her fifth win of the season. In that race, she maintained the lead despite early challenges and two safety car periods, finishing ahead of Nina Gademan and Alba Larsen.

Alba Larsen, driving for Ferrari, achieved her first career victory in the F1 Academy category by winning the reverse-grid race. Larsen's performance at COTA follows a series of strong podium finishes throughout the season. As the champion, Palmowski is expected to receive the F1 Academy progression package, which typically includes testing and a seat in higher single-seater categories such as FRECA or GB3.