Alisha Palmowski secured double pole place for Spherical 5 of the F1 Academy season on the US GP following a post-session reinstatement of her quickest lap time.
The Crimson Bull-backed championship chief will line up on the entrance of the grid for each Friday’s Opening Race and Sunday’s Function Race in Austin.
F1 Academy Free Apply in Austin
Emma Felbermayr set the benchmark on the Circuit of the Americas, topping the only F1 Academy follow session forward of qualifying.
The Audi driver posted a 2:08.949 to edge out championship chief Alisha Palmowski by 0.178 seconds, with Nina Gademan ending third.
Monitor restrict violations at Flip 1 and evolving circuit circumstances proved difficult as drivers pushed for final tempo.
Now, the grid turned its focus to an important qualifying session in Austin to set the grid for each races.
Qualifying begins on the US GP
Monitor restrict violations dominated the early working, forcing a number of drivers—together with title contender Felbermayr—to lose aggressive lap instances.
Palmowski took management early, breaking into the two:08s to determine a snug hole over her rivals.
Residence favorite Payton Westcott responded strongly halfway by way of the session, setting purple sectors to problem the Briton on the prime of the order.
Because the grid bolted on recent tyres for the ultimate runs, dramatic shifts unfolded.
Felbermayr appeared poised for a front-row rivalry earlier than a heavy lock-up and vast second by way of the ultimate corners price her over half a second.
In the meantime, Lisa Billard, Megan Bruce, and Jin Jacquet produced spectacular efforts to climb into the highest ten.
Palmowski lowered the benchmark additional by getting into the two:07s, just for Westcott to briefly usurp her with a shocking 2:07.812.
Whereas preliminary monitor restrict enforcement briefly elevated Westcott, Palmowski’s session-topping lap was in the end reinstated by officers, handing her double pole place for the weekend’s most important occasions.
Gademan accomplished the highest three behind Palmowski and Westcott, whereas Natalia Granada delivered an distinctive efficiency to lock down fourth on the Function Race grid.
Alba Larsen took fifth forward of Billard, Jacquet, Rafaela Ferreira, a disenchanted Felbermayr in ninth, and Robertson.
READ MORE – F1 Academy 2026 US GP – Qualifying Outcomes