Alisha Palmowski is the 2026 F1 Academy Champion. The Red Bull Racing-backed driver sealed the title in Austin with three races still remaining on the calendar, capping off a season of relentless consistency and raw pace that left her rivals with no answer.
The championship was clinched in Saturday's Reverse Grid Race at the Circuit of the Americas. Starting from eighth—hardly the ideal grid slot for a title coronation—Palmowski carved her way through the field to finish second behind Alba Larsen . That result, combined with her nearest rival Emma Felbermayr's fourth-place finish, gave Palmowski an unassailable 70-point lead with only 67 points left on the table .
A Season of Supremacy
The statistics tell the story of a driver operating at another level. Palmowski has won five of the eleven races contested so far, securing six pole positions in the process . Her dominance has been particularly pronounced in the Opening and Feature Races, where she has amassed 153 of her 161 points—a remarkable 95% of her total haul coming from formats that reward pure qualifying pace and racecraft .
The weekend in Austin perfectly encapsulated her season. On Friday, she started from pole and survived two Safety Car restarts to claim victory in the Opening Race, extending her lead to 63 points . The only question remaining was whether she could seal the deal one day later in the Reverse Grid—a format that had historically been her weakest, yielding just eight points all season .
She answered that question emphatically.
The Deciding Moment
The Reverse Grid Race was not without drama. Felbermayr, knowing nothing short of a miracle would keep her title hopes alive, charged through the field in the early laps. But Palmowski was methodical. She picked off competitors one by one, moving into second place by Lap 10 and securing the finish she needed to make history .
As she crossed the line, the cheers from the Red Bull and Campos Racing pit walls told the full story. At 20 years old, Palmowski becomes the youngest champion in the series' history and the first driver from Campos Racing to lift the crown .
"We Left No Stone Unturned"
Speaking after the race, an emotional Palmowski struggled to find the words.
"We did it guys! It's incredible. I don't know what to say. I'm trying not to cry," she said. "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" .
She also reflected on her development within the Red Bull programme, which has supported her since her GB4 days. "I've learned so much in the last 18 months to two years being with Red Bull," she noted. "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" .
What Comes Next
With the title secure, Palmowski will start Sunday's Feature Race from pole position, hunting a sixth win of the campaign . Beyond Austin, attention turns to 2027. Previous F1 Academy champions have graduated to Formula Regional and endurance racing, and Palmowski is clear about her ambitions.
"I want to go as far up the single-seater ladder as possible," she said. "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" .
For now, though, the celebration belongs to Palmowski, Campos Racing, and Red Bull. A dominant season has found its deserving champion—and she did it with three races to spare.
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