Britain's Alisha Palmowski has secured the 2026 F1 Academy championship with three races still to run after establishing an insurmountable advantage at the Circuit of the Americas. According to Sky Sports, the Red Bull-backed driver's commanding performance in Austin has ended the title race early.
Palmowski claimed victory in Friday's Opening Race before finishing second in the Reverse Grid Race behind Alba Larsen. In that opening contest, Nina Gademan took second place and Larsen third after being instructed to relinquish a position, extending Palmowski's championship lead to 63 points before the title-clinching race. Her two results in Texas have now built a 70-point advantage over nearest rival Emme Felbermayr, with only a maximum of 67 points available from the remaining three races.
The 20-year-old has dominated the season by claiming five victories from 11 races contested so far, alongside six pole positions. This achievement makes her the second British driver to win the F1 Academy title, following Abbi Pulling's success in 2024, and she becomes the championship's youngest ever champion.
Palmowski's path to the title has been built on consistent excellence across her two full seasons in the category. She began karting in 2018 and earned 10 podiums in the Ginetta Junior Championship before being named a BRDC Rising Star in 2024. In her rookie 2025 campaign, she finished fifth overall with 91 points, one victory and five podiums, demonstrating the rapid improvement that has culminated in this championship.
Speaking immediately after securing the title, an emotional Palmowski reflected on the achievement and the collective effort behind it.
We did it guys! It's incredible. I don't know what to say. I'm trying not to cry!
She went on to praise the extensive work undertaken by her team and support network throughout the season.
There's so much hard work gone on behind the scenes, not just from myself, but all the people you won't see. They have lived it day and night. We have worked so hard as a team, Campos Racing and Red Bull Racing. We have left no stone unturned. I don't want to name names but my engineer Diego has lived this with me every day and night.
Palmowski has benefited from Red Bull's backing since the start of 2025, following her runner-up finish in the 2024 GB4 Championship. She reflected on the personal and professional development that has accompanied her time with the energy drink giant.
I've learned so much in the last 18 months to two years being with Red Bull. I learned about things I didn't know. I've developed so much, not only as a driver but a person as well. I've matured so much in the last 12 months. It's a dream come true.
Looking ahead to 2027
Previous F1 Academy champions have pursued varied paths in their motorsport careers. Marta Garcia, Pulling and Doriane Pin have all progressed to compete in endurance racing and Formula Regional categories, establishing a template for drivers exiting the academy.
Palmowski will start from pole position for Sunday's main race at the Circuit of the Americas at 5pm, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. When asked about her future plans, she indicated that discussions are ongoing but deferred decision-making to her management team.
There are conversations happening in the background but I'm leaving that to my management team. I want to go as far up the single-seater ladder as possible but I'm aware motorsport is a results-based business. I'm a big believer that when you go in a car, the helmet goes on, the car doesn't have a gender and we are fighting for the same thing.
Her comments reflect an ambition to continue climbing the single-seater hierarchy, with the pathway established by her predecessors suggesting opportunities in higher categories for the coming season.
Season finale and schedule
The 2026 season's final round is scheduled for Las Vegas on November 19–21, meaning Palmowski will have two more race weekends to add to her championship tally after Austin. The United States Grand Prix weekend continues with the main F1 race on Sunday, October 25, also live on Sky Sports F1.
