Palmowski controls Silverstone Feature Race as Bättig makes F1 Academy history

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.

Palmowski seizes control at the start

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.

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.

Safety Car reshuffles the podium fight

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.

Bättig pressures, Palmowski prevails

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.