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Alisha Palmowski delivered a masterclass in consistency and pace during the second and final day of F1 ACADEMY in-season testing at Silverstone. The Red Bull Racing driver was the class of the field, topping both the morning and afternoon sessions to cement her status as a driver to watch.
The day began under challenging circumstances, with grey skies and early morning showers leaving the Silverstone circuit damp and treacherous. The field initially took to the track on wet-weather tyres for reconnaissance laps, but the session was quickly interrupted when Rafaela Ferreira brought out the first Red Flag after sliding into the gravel at Stowe.
As the track conditions slowly improved, the lap times began to tumble. Despite a second Red Flag caused by an off at Club, the field found their rhythm. Alba Larsen was the first to dip into the 2:15s, but Palmowski soon asserted her authority, pulling over a second clear of the pack by the end of the first hour.
While Gademan briefly held the top spot, the session turned into a battle between Larsen and Palmowski as the track dried. Ella Lloyd capitalized on the improving surface to post the first sub-2:09s lap, but a late-session Red Flag for Kaylee Countryman’s off at Club set the stage for a frantic final sprint. When running resumed, Palmowski proved untouchable, setting a blistering 2:02.861 on her final lap to lead the morning. Lloyd followed in second, 0.686s adrift, with Megan Bruce completing an all-British top three.
The afternoon session saw the sun break through, providing more representative conditions for the drivers to push the limits of their machinery. Rachel Robertson initially set the pace with a 2:04.525, but Palmowski quickly reclaimed the initiative, eclipsing that time by over a second.
The Red Bull Racing driver continued to refine her pace, eventually lowering the benchmark to a 2:01.945. Her teammate, Megan Bruce, showed impressive speed to finish just 0.077s behind, while Payton Westcott rounded out the top three.
The session was briefly halted by a Red Flag to recover Ava Dobson from the gravel at Luffield, but the interruption did little to disrupt the leaders. With no further improvements at the front of the field, Palmowski’s morning and afternoon dominance served as a clear statement of intent.
As the paddock looks ahead, the focus now shifts to Round 2 in Montreal, scheduled for May 22-24. For more insights into the development of young talent in the sport, read about Abbi Pulling’s reflections on the evolving landscape for young female drivers.
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producer’s brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastri’s rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!
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