Felbermayr takes sensational victory in Shanghai in Round 1 of the F1 Academy 2026 season

Round 1 of the F1 Academy season took place this weekend in Shanghai, as part of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix support package. Nina Gademan took the first F1 Academy victory of the season in Race 1 and Emma Felbermayr took her first full points race win in Race 2.

Round 1 of the 2026 F1 Academy season saw the 2026 drivers return to the Shanghai International Circuit for the second time, with Chinese driver Shi Wei joining as the wild card for the second time. Drivers faced cool track conditions, high-speed corners and a qualifying session covered by less than five-tenths.

Emma Felbermayr, Alisha Palmowski, Natalia Granada, Payton Westcott and Nina Gademan were the standout performers of the weekend. Both rookies took their first podiums with Granada taking her first-ever single-seater podium, after finishing second in Race 1 and Wescott finished third in a thrilling Race 2, just behind Palmowski and Felbermayr.

During the race weekend, it was announced that Round 2 of the season would be cancelled, along with the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. It is still unknown whether F1 Academy Round 2 will be replaced.

The series also unveiled a new partnership with Sephora, naming the global beauty retailer as an Official Partner and the Official Beauty Retail Partner, as well as a partnership with Disney through Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck as an extension of their Formula 1 partnership.

Sephora and Natalia Granada

Palmowski fastest in Shanghai qualifying

Palmowski started off her weekend and season strong, securing her maiden pole position after finishing second and missing out on numerous occasions last season.

Starting the season as one of the favourites to win the championship title, the pressure was on to perform from the very beginning and she did, setting the fastest lap in the Free Practice session with a lap time of 2:04.550 seconds, almost half a second ahead of rival Larsen.

The battle with Larsen continued through the qualifying session, with Palmowski jumping to the top of the timesheets early in the session, before being beaten by Felbermayr and Larsen.

At the halfway mark, Larsen was firmly on provisional pole before running was disrupted as red flags were waved after Kaylee Countryman came to a stop on track.

There was less than ten minutes left on the clock as running started up once again. Palmowski had pole position in her sights, getting out onto the track first; however, a small mistake meant her lap time was still less than a tenth behind Larsen.

Westcott joined the challenge for the top spot but remained in third place. In the final stages of the session, Palmowski set a lap time of 2:04.182 seconds, improving and extending her lead to over four tenths, with Larsen having to settle for P2.

Alisha Palmowski

Gademan took her first victory of the season in Race 1

Gademan led the reverse grid race from start to finish and finished 0.624 seconds ahead of Granada. She held onto the lead after a safety car restart and intense pressure from a feisty Granada, who was on her gearbox for the majority of the race before Gademan managed to pull out a small gap in the closing stages.

It was the second Race 1 win for the Dutch driver, who battled back from injury to take her first podium in the series in Race 1 in Zandvoort last season, finishing two seconds clear of Lia Block.

After being disappointed in qualifying, Gademan capitalised on her opportunity and picked up valuable championship points in the first race of the season.

Nina Gademan

Felbermayr takes her maiden first full points victory

Felbermayr secured an impressive victory after a great launch at the race start, which allowed her to capitalise on Palmowski's misfortune and move into P2. After staying patient and keeping her cool, she inherited first place after Larsen made a devastating error.

Palmowski started in pole position, but an incredible launch by Larsen demoted the pole sitter, who was quickly also overtaken by Felbermayr and had to settle into third, with a feisty Westcott close behind.

Larsen built a significant advantage ahead in the opening stages of the race, as the battles unfolded everywhere, with Ella Lloyd being caught in a three-way battle for sixth with Rafaela Ferreira and Lisa Billard.

At the front, Larsen had built up a lead of two seconds, with Palmowski putting pressure on Felbermayr and Westcott, chasing, joining the battle.

A lap-six safety car was deployed for an incident between Esmee Kosterman and Jade Jacquet, allowing the pack to bunch up.

During the safety car restart, Larsen made a devastating error and lost the lead at the final corner. A snap oversteer sent her into the gravel and down the top 10.

Felbermayr inherited the lead and held off incredible pressure from Palmowski to take the chequered flag in the second race of the season.

Emma Felbermayr

Two rookies take their first podiums

After qualifying in seventh, Granada lined up on the front row for her first single-seater race in Race 1, just behind Gademan. She stayed with Gademan for the entire race, refusing to let the leader escape, keeping within half a second of the Dutch driver.

She kept her cool, displayed maturity and exceptional racecraft on her debut, and stood on the podium in second place for the first time in her single-seater career. In Race 2, luck wasn't on her side. After making contact with Ferreira on the opening lap, she had to head into the pits for a new front wing and finished 14th.

Wescott impressed all weekend long, qualifying in fourth place, less than half a second off Palmowski in pole position. She lined up in fifth place for Race 1 and had a strong start, making up a place on the race start.

As the race progressed, the American driver battled with Ferreira for third until Felbermayr seized the opportunity and overtook Westcott, pushing her down to fifth place and then ultimately sixth, where she finished Race 1.

Wescott lined up in fourth place for Race 2 and stayed out of trouble during the opening stages of the race, before making a challenge for the final podium place. An error from Larsen on the safety car restart brought Wescott into podium contention, finishing in third place.

Race 2 Podium

F1 Academy Shanghai Race Results

Qualifying: 1) Alisha Palmowski 2:04.182

2) Alba Larsen                    +0.403

3) Emma Felbermayr         +0.489

Race 1: 1) Nina Gademan

2) Natalia Granada +0.624 

3) Emma Felbermayr +2.553 

Race 2: 1) Emma Felbermayr

2) Alisha Palmowski +0.252

3) Payton Westcott +0.872

2026 Season Standings After Round 1

1. Emma Felbermayr - 31 points

2. Alisha Palmowski - 25 points

3. Nina Gademan - 22 points

4. Payton Westcott - 18 points

5. Rafaela Ferreira - 13 points

6. Ella Lloyd - 13 points

7. Natalia Granada - 8 points

8. Lisa Billard - 7 points

9. Alba Larsen - 4 points

10. Megan Bruce - 2 points

11. Ava Dobson - 1 point

12. Rachel Robertson

13. Ella Stevens

14. Mathilda Paatz

15. Kaylee Countryman

16. Jade Jacquet

17. Esmee Kosterman

18. Shi Wei (WCD)

F1 Academy was scheduled to return for round two in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) on April 17-19, alongside the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, but both races have been cancelled.

Round 3 is scheduled for May 22-24 in Montreal alongside the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix weekend.

All images are credited to F1 Academy Limited.