Palmowski obliterates the field: takes championship lead with record breaking win in Montreal

There’s dominant and then there’s what Alisha Palmowski did in the 2026 Canadian GP Opening Race. The Red Bull Racing-backed driver led from lights out to the chequered flag, finishing 10.1 seconds ahead of Campos teammate Megan Bruce the largest winning margin in F1 Academy series history. That wasn’t a race. It was a statement.

Bruce held off Mercedes’ Payton Westcott and Mathilda Paatz to claim her maiden podium, with Paatz capitalising on a mistake from her teammate to complete the top three for Aston Martin.

Out front, Palmowski was untouched. Behind her, the drama came in waves. Emma Felbermayr stalled on the grid from fourth place and dropped to the back of the pack. She managed to restart and ultimately finished tenth, but the championship damage was already done.

Westcott had her own race to forget. The Mercedes-backed American was handed a five-second penalty for failing to rejoin correctly after using the runoff area at the final chicane on the opening lap. After that, she was passed by Gademan, Lloyd, Countryman, Ella Stevens and Felbermayr in quick succession before eventually pitting. One of those days where nothing goes right from lap one.

Among the midfield highlights: Ella Lloyd produced the recovery drive of the race, gaining 10 positions to charge from P16 to P6. And rookies Kaylee Countryman and Ella Stevens scored their first points in the series, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Small milestones that matter in a development category.

Nina Gademan crossed the line in sixth but was demoted to ninth after receiving a five-second time penalty for failing to follow Race Director instructions.

On the championship front, the race reshuffled everything. With the win, Palmowski moved to 50 points and opened a 19-point gap over Felbermayr, taking the championship lead. Rafaela Ferreira, who finished fourth, climbed to third in the standings. This Opening Race carried the same points system as Sunday’s Feature Race, so the consequences are as real as any other result on the calendar.

What strikes me most isn’t just that Palmowski won it’s how she won. Ten seconds in a 17 lap F1 Academy race isn’t a pace difference, it’s a category difference. The question now is whether the reverse grid race this evening and Sunday’s Feature Race can level things out at all.

F1 ACADEMY OPENING RACE CANADIAN GP 2026

Can anyone stop Palmowski before the end of the season, or is Montreal already showing us how this championship ends? Let us know in the comments.

Sources: F1Academy.com, Racers Behind The Helmet, Motorsport Week, AutoHebdo