Larsen handed grid drop after Austin Feature Race collision

Alba Larsen has been handed a three-place grid penalty after stewards ruled that she caused a collision with Alisha Palmowski in the F1 ACADEMY Feature Race in Austin. Both drivers retired after their cars made contact between Turns 12 and 13.

The penalty will apply at the next race Larsen participates in. The stewards found the Ferrari driver wholly at fault for the incident, which unfolded as the pair approached Turn 13.

Contact came as the pair exited Turn 12

Larsen made an inside move on Palmowski at Turn 12. The Red Bull Racing driver took a different line through the middle of the corner and attempted to pass back. At the exit, Palmowski was slightly ahead and had left more than a car’s width to her right, while beginning to move left towards Turn 13.

Larsen stayed on track, but also moved left. Her left-front tyre struck Palmowski’s right-rear tyre, and both cars were forced to retire from the race.

The stewards’ decision focused on that movement at the corner exit: they concluded Larsen was responsible for the collision and issued the grid drop. No further details about when she will serve the penalty were given.

Austin incident ends both drivers’ races

The contact brought an abrupt end to the race for both Larsen and Palmowski. The ruling means Larsen will carry the penalty into her next F1 ACADEMY appearance, whenever that comes.

The incident was one of the notable moments in the Austin Feature Race. Read more about the wider Austin race, and see our coverage of Larsen’s F1 ACADEMY campaign.