Larsen claims emotional maiden F1 ACADEMY win in Austin

Alba Larsen finally delivered the breakthrough she had been chasing, converting fourth on the grid into her maiden F1 ACADEMY victory in Austin. The Ferrari driver took control during a chaotic opening lap, then pulled clear after the Safety Car restart to secure a commanding win.

The result came at the Circuit of the Americas after a run of three consecutive podium finishes. For Larsen, the achievement was both a racing milestone and an emotional moment: hearing the Danish national anthem from the top step left her in tears.

Larsen took the lead on a dramatic first lap

Starting fourth in the Reverse Grid Race, Larsen moved ahead during the opening-lap incident involving Ferreira and Jacquet. She made the most of the opportunity, then produced a strong restart when racing resumed and led every lap from there.

The 17-year-old said the win meant a great deal after having to fight through the early stages. Once in front, she built a substantial advantage and kept the chasing field at bay. On the podium, the sound of the Danish anthem overwhelmed her; she sang along, despite nearly forgetting the words.

Larsen’s first podium had come at Zandvoort in her 22nd race. Three more top-three finishes followed before Austin, marking a steady run of progress. Her earlier Zandvoort momentum now has a decisive follow-through in the form of her first race win.

Summer work helped turn promise into a win

Larsen credited preparation with helping her stay composed after the Safety Car. She had a clear plan for when to accelerate, then focused on managing the gap and preserving her tyres. With her engineer urging her to keep pushing, she also asked about the fastest lap during the closing two laps and tried to chase it, though she felt she had left that attempt too late.

The victory followed work with her team over the summer break, which Larsen said had helped her develop confidence and demonstrate the potential she felt she had shown all season. She had also been announced for the 2027 campaign, with her Ferrari confirmation already in place.

Larsen targets another podium in the Feature Race

Attention now turns to Sunday’s Feature Race, where Larsen will start fifth. She expects the challenge to be difficult but is eager to fight her way back onto the podium. Her win came on the same Austin weekend that Alisha Palmowski secured the 2026 title; the championship-deciding Reverse Grid Race therefore delivered a landmark result for both drivers.