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Alisha Palmowski delivered a commanding victory in the F1 Academy Feature Race at Silverstone, converting a decisive launch into another statement result on British Grand Prix weekend. Chiara Bättig finished second after starting from pole, while Emma Felbermayr completed the podium after resisting late pressure.
The front row carried a compelling storyline before the lights went out. Wild Card entry Bättig had already made history on Friday by securing pole position, a result that followed her landmark Silverstone pace earlier in the weekend. For more on that breakthrough, read our report on Bättig’s landmark F1 Academy pole at Silverstone.
Alongside her was championship leader Palmowski, chasing a third race victory in the series and carrying an experience advantage over several rookie rivals on a circuit new to F1 Academy. When the race began, that edge immediately showed. Palmowski launched brilliantly, took the lead before the field settled, and left Bättig to consolidate second.
Behind them, Lisa Billard’s race unravelled instantly. Starting third, the Gatorade-powered driver stalled on the grid and dropped to eighteenth and last by the end of the opening lap.
The opening phase was lively throughout the pack. Rachel Robertson and Emma Felbermayr fought over fourth before Felbermayr used her experience to move ahead, shortly before the Safety Car was deployed.
The interruption followed contact between Rafaela Ferreria and Ella Stevens. Ferreria drifted too close to Stevens, causing a spin and sustaining damage herself. The Brazilian continued briefly before pitting to retire.
One of the sharpest early movers was McLaren’s Ella Lloyd, who climbed from eighth to third in a single lap. But after the Safety Car peeled in at the end of Lap 4, Palmowski managed the restart cleanly, with Bättig staying second and the lead pair quickly building breathing room.
Felbermayr then attacked Lloyd in a fierce side-by-side exchange and completed the move on the run to Abbey. Nina Gademan also capitalised on Lloyd’s loss of pace, moving into fourth and joining the podium chase.
Further back, Alba Larsen survived a Lap 7 moment while fighting around the final points places. As she rejoined, contact followed between Larsen and Megan Bruce, leaving Bruce with front nose cone damage, though both continued.
At the front, Palmowski and Bättig pulled five seconds clear of their nearest rivals. Bättig remained inside DRS range and applied pressure, but Palmowski never allowed the race to slip from her control.
Esmee Kostermann received a five-second penalty for a Safety Car infringement, dropping to 15th in the final classification.
Palmowski took the chequered flag to extend her championship lead, while Bättig became the first Wild Card entry to secure an F1 Academy podium. Felbermayr held off Gademan to seal third, completing a composed and hard-earned Silverstone podium.
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!