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Chiara Bättig’s F1 Academy debut at Silverstone has already become one of the standout stories of the weekend. After setting the pace in free practice, the 16-year-old Swiss driver carried that momentum into qualifying, delivering a 2:01.775 to secure pole ahead of home favourite and championship leader Alisha Palmowski.
It was a commanding statement from a Wild Card Driver who arrived with track experience and a previous British Formula 4 podium at Silverstone. Her practice pace had already marked her out as a threat, as covered in our report on Bättig’s Silverstone Practice benchmark, but qualifying confirmed that her speed was no one-session flash.
The 30-minute session began on a heavily rubbered-in circuit, with Nina Gademan the first to establish a representative benchmark at 2:03.348. Palmowski soon moved ahead by three tenths, only for Gademan to respond and reclaim top spot. Bättig then slotted into second, ahead of Audi driver Emma Felbermayr, as the order began to take shape.
By the 10-minute mark, Bättig looked ready to challenge Gademan’s time again, improving through her lap before peeling into the pits. Several drivers followed for fresh tyres, while track limits caught out Palmowski, Natalia Granada and Rachel Robertson.
At halfway, Gademan led from Bättig, Felbermayr, Lisa Billard, Palmowski, Megan Bruce, Ella Lloyd and Alba Larsen, with Larsen provisionally positioned for reverse-grid pole.
The decisive phase began with 10 minutes remaining. Billard struck first, lowering the benchmark to 2:02.80 and moving into provisional pole. Bättig’s response was immediate and emphatic: two tenths faster, back to the top, and firmly in control of the session.
Felbermayr briefly climbed to second before Gademan moved back into third. Palmowski then launched a late attack, but a snap of oversteer into Copse compromised her run. She still managed second, yet could not find the time needed to displace Bättig.
A spin for Esmee Kosterman at Turn 1 brought a brief yellow flag in the final minute, leaving Palmowski, Felbermayr and Lloyd among those still pushing. Bättig, already out of the car, had done enough.
With nobody able to better her lap, Bättig became the first F1 Academy Wild Card Driver to take pole and the youngest polesitter in series history. Palmowski, Billard, Ava Dobson, Robertson, Lloyd, Gademan, Felbermayr, Bruce and Payton Westcott completed the top 10, with Dobson and Robertson improving late to move into points contention.
Before the Feature Race, Felbermayr will start from pole in Saturday’s Reverse Grid Race at 18:05 GMT.
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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