The 2026 F1 Academy Chinese GP Race 1 saw Nina Gademan take the first victory of the season, with a dramatic reverse-grid race setting the tone for the championship.
Gademan makes strong start
Gademan launched superbly off the line and held the lead into Turn 1 of Race 1. Granada, facing her first front-row start in single-seater racing, maintained P2 through the opening lap. Behind them, Billard dropped from P3 to P7 after a poor getaway from the grid.
Further back, Megan Bruce made an impressive start, climbing from P14 to P10 over the opening lap with several decisive overtakes. At the rear of the field, Paatz and Shi engaged in a tight battle for position.
A long train quickly formed behind the leader, stretching from Gademan in P1 to Lloyd in P9, while another pack developed from Bruce in P10 down to Shi in P17.
Safety Car interrupts Race 1
On Lap 4, Paatz pitted for a front-wing change before rejoining the race. Race Control later noted an earlier collision between Paatz and Shi.
Westcott attempted a move at the hairpin but ran slightly wide, allowing Ferreira to reclaim the position on the exit and down the following straight.
Lap 7 brought contact between Alba Larsen and Emma Felbermayr, which resulted in Larsen losing her front wing. The damaged wing eventually detached from the car and fell onto the circuit, dropping Larsen from P6 to P9 and triggering a Safety Car while marshals cleared the debris.
Battles resume after restart
At the restart, Gademan controlled the field and retained the lead. Further back, Larsen ran wide into the gravel and dropped to P14, prompting MP Motorsport to pit her for another front-wing change.
Billard moved past Lloyd on Lap 9, while Westcott continued to pressure Ferreira in the battle for the podium positions.
Granada held her own in second place during her first F1 Academy race, staying within reach of Gademan throughout the closing stages.
Felbermayr attempted a move on Westcott but locked up into the hairpin. The fight for the final podium spot intensified between Felbermayr, Ferreira and Westcott. When Westcott ran wide during an attempted overtake, Palmowski joined the battle.
Late moves in the midfield for Race 1 at the Chinese GP
Dobson delivered strong progress through the field, climbing from P12 to P10 and bringing Stevens along with her in P11. On Lap 12, Dobson passed Robertson to move into P9.
In the closing laps, Felbermayr and Ferreira continued their battle, with Felbermayr ultimately securing the final podium position.
Gademan controlled the F1 Academy Chinese GP Race 1 to take victory, while Granada delivered an impressive performance to finish P2 in her first single-seater race. Felbermayr completed the podium in P3, with Ferreira, Palmowski, Westcott, Lloyd and Billard rounding out the points-paying positions.
Race 1 results
