Alisha Palmowski snatches both Austin poles on final lap

Alisha Palmowski claimed pole for both F1 Academy races in Austin with a last-lap effort that survived a track-limits deletion, edging Payton Westcott by 0.098 seconds.

The Red Bull Racing driver crossed the line with a time of 2:07.714 in the 30-minute session. Her lap was initially removed for exceeding track limits at Turn 20, briefly handing Westcott provisional pole. Officials reinstated it, putting Palmowski back on top and leaving Westcott second. Nina Gademan took third.

The result adds Palmowski’s fifth and sixth poles of the season. It also continues a run of strong qualifying form, following her pole-winning performance at Zandvoort.

Westcott’s late benchmark is beaten at the flag

With just two minutes remaining, Westcott set a 2:07.812 to move ahead of Palmowski. The Mercedes driver had also recorded the fastest Sector 2, and appeared set to secure her first pole positions before Palmowski’s time was restored.

Grip levels were a key unknown after the series had held only one practice session, with no Formula 1 running in between. Several drivers had early lap times deleted for track limits, while Ava Dobson briefly set the pace before Gademan, Rafaela Ferreira and Palmowski successively improved the benchmark.

Palmowski lowered her own time to 2:08.337 midway through the session. Westcott then made her decisive late charge, but the final lap settled the contest. The Austin pole was also secured after Palmowski’s lap was reinstated.

Final-lap gains reshape the grids

Natalia Granada climbed from eighth to fourth with her final effort, while Alba Larsen finished fifth and Lisa Billard sixth. Jade Jacquet was seventh and Ferreira eighth; Ferreira’s result gives her pole for the Reverse Grid Race. Emma Felbermayr placed ninth, with Rachel Robertson completing the top 10.

For the Opening Race, Billard’s second-fastest lap moved her to fourth. Larsen’s time was reinstated, placing her fifth ahead of Jacquet. Granada will start seventh, followed by Ferreira, Robertson and Megan Bruce. Palmowski, Westcott and Gademan retain the top three positions for that race.

F1 Academy action resumes on Friday at 17:50 local time (UTC−5), with Palmowski starting the Opening Race from pole.