F1 Academy: Alisha Palmowski seals Montreal glory in dominant Feature Race victory

Written by Teagan Strachan

Credit: F1 Academy via Instagram

Running adjacent to the Canadian Grand Prix, the final race of three began on Sunday morning marking the conclusion of Round 2 for the F1 Academy in Canada. Following an impressive streak, securing both pole positions and the Opening Race victory for the weekend, Red Bull-backed driver Alisha Palmowski started at the front of the grid. Alongside was rookie Payton Westcott who also found success this weekend clinching P3 after her promotion to the podium in the Reverse Grid Race.

How it happened

Straight off the start on a slightly damp track, Palmowski continued her dominant weekend securing the lead ahead of the pack. Westcott loomed slightly behind her, but Palmowski remained steady. Meanwhile, toward the back, Ella Stevens had a difficult start to the race, unable to grasp a smooth start on lights out.

As the grid closed out Lap 2, Megan Bruce placed steady pressure on fellow rookie Westcott allowing her to move up to second. Meanwhile, Ella Lloyd moved up six places into the top 10 in an impressive start to the race, however after colliding with Lisa Billard early in Lap 1, she was under threat of an early penalty (the penalty was later cleared with no further action).

With the complexity of the wet conditions increasing, a fierce battle between Ferrari-backed Alba Larsen and Alpine-backed Nina Gademan continued throughout Lap 3.

Late breaking from Gademan shifted positions in the mid-pack with Larsen dropping positions to Lloyd and Rafaela Ferreria. The intense three-car battle continued into Lap 7, with Lloyd cutting onto the grass, allowing Natalia Granada to join the fight into Lap 8.

The front of the field remained steady with Palmowski holding a strong 5.5-second lead to Westcott.

In the midfield, Ferreria and Lloyd were in a battle for ninth, and whilst Ferreria had a slight lock-up, she remained steady.

With five laps left the grid remained calm as Emma Felbermayr utilised her experience to put pressure on Westcott. After a battle of attack and defence, a small slip up from Westcott allowed Audi-back Felbermayr to move up to third.

In Lap 15, Esmee Kosterman was handed a 5-second time penalty for an incident with Jade Jacquet, meanwhile race leader Palmowski looked to create her second 10-second gap lead for the weekend.

As Lap 17 came into sight, even after an slight engine scare, Palmowski held strong to meet the checkered flag in first, rounding out a strong weekend and her second win in Montreal for the round.

In a late charge, Felbermayr took second place securing P2, followed by Bruce in third, Westcott in fourth and Mathilda Paatz in fifth.

Palmowski ended the race with an impressive 11-second lead to second.

Looking ahead

F1 Academy will return for Round 3 from the 3-5 July in Silverstone, Great Britain for its inaugural appearance, alongside the British Grand Prix.