Britain’s Alisha Palmowski became the 2026 F1 Academy champion with three races to go after an unassailable lead in Austin.
Palmowski followed up Friday’s Opening Race win at the Circuit of the Americas with second in the Reverse Grid Race behind Alba Larsen to take a 70-point lead over her nearest championship challenger, Emma Felbermayr, with just one maximum if 67 points remaining.
The Red Bull-backed driver has dominated this season winning five of the 11 races so far with six pole positions to become the second Briton after Abbi Pulling in 2024 to win the F1 Academy title.
Palmowski, 20, is the youngest F1 Academy champion and praised her team and family, who were in attendance in Austin.
“We did it guys! It’s unbelievable. I don’t know what to say. I’m trying not to cry!” she said.
“There’s so much hard work behind the scenes, not just by me, but by all the people you won’t see. They’ve been living it day and night.
“We have worked hard as a team, Campos Racing and Red Bull Racing. We have left no stone unturned. I don’t want to name names, but my engineer Diego has lived this with me every day and night.”
Palmowski has won the title in her second full campaign after an impressive debut season, where she won the 2025 season opener and took four other podiums.
She has been supported by Red Bull since the start of last year after finishing as runner-up in the 2024 GB4 Championship.
“I’ve learned a lot in the last 18 months to two years being with Red Bull,” she said.
“I’ve learned about things I didn’t know. I’ve developed so much, not only as a driver but also as a person. I’ve matured so much in the last 12 months. It’s a dream come true.”
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Watch Alisha Palmowski take the biggest winning margin in F1 Academy history in Canada earlier this year, then break it again a few races later!
What else for Palmowski?
Previous F1 Academy champions Marta Garcia, Pulling and Doriane Pin have gone on to compete in other motorsport categories in endurance racing and Formula Regional.
Palmowski, who starts on pole for Sunday’s main event in Austin at 5 p.m., live on Sky Sports F1, could now look to make a similar move in 2027.
“There are conversations going on in the background, but I’m leaving that to my management team,” she said Sky Sports F1.
“I want to climb the one-place ladder as much as possible, but I am aware that motorsport is a results-based business.
“I strongly believe that when you get into a car, the helmet goes on, the car has no gender and we are fighting for the same thing.”
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Alisha Palmowski discusses her F1 Academy Championship winning campaign
Sky Sports F1 United States GP live schedule
Sunday, October 25
17:00: Race 3 of the F1 Academy
18:30: Grand Prix Sunday: US GP Preparation*
20:00: United States Grand Prix*
10:00 p.m.: Checkered flag: US GP reaction
11:00 p.m.: Teddy’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in America for another treble with the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the first this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports NOW – no contract, cancel anytime