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The conclusion of the F1 Academy Reverse Grid Race in Montreal was far from straightforward, with the stewards issuing three separate five-second time penalties following a post-race review of on-track incidents. Alba Larsen, Ella Lloyd, and Autumn Fisher have all been found guilty of causing collisions, triggering a significant shake-up to the final classification.
It was a race that had already delivered drama in the closing stages, and the stewards' decisions only added to the intrigue once the chequered flag had fallen.
Larsen was the first driver to face the stewards, receiving a five-second penalty for a collision with Emma Felbermayr at Turn 8. The Ferrari driver clipped the orange kerb while fighting for position through Turn 7, before making contact with Felbermayr and spinning the Audi driver out of contention. The stewards determined that Larsen did not have her front axle alongside the #5 car's mirror as they entered the corner, placing the Dane wholly to blame for the incident.
Lloyd was next under the microscope following a collision with Rachel Robertson at the exit of Turn 14. The post-session review established that Robertson had not braked before the impact and that the PUMA driver had simply been following the car ahead. On that basis, the stewards concluded that the McLaren driver was wholly responsible for the contact, earning Lloyd a matching five-second penalty.
The third penalty was handed to Fisher, who collided with Ava Dobson at Turn 7. Video evidence confirmed that the American Express driver was ahead of Fisher entering the corner, and Fisher herself acknowledged the error, stating it was a mistake she could not avoid. The stewards agreed, ruling that the Standard Chartered driver bore sole responsibility for the incident.
The combined effect of the three penalties produces a dramatically altered result. Larsen drops from third all the way to 11th, while Lloyd slides from seventh to 13th and Fisher moves from 13th to 14th.
The beneficiaries are significant. Kaylee Countryman is elevated to second place, with Payton Westcott completing the podium in third. Behind the top three, Natalia Granada moves up to fourth, followed by Lisa Billard, Emma Felbermayr — who ironically gains from the penalty applied to the driver who hit her — Megan Bruce, and Rafaela Ferreira, with the Racing Bulls driver claiming the final championship point in eighth.
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!